Study on improving rail and integration of new rail power technologies

(a) In general The Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, acting through the Associate Administrator of the Office of Research, Data, and Innovation, shall conduct a study relating to the improvement of rail performance and integration of new rail power technologies in the southeastern United States. (b) Considerations In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— (1) identify— (A) any segment of a rail corridor between Florida and Washington, DC that may be suitable for technologies such as rail electrification or use of fuel cell or battery; and (B) any challenges relating to implementing such technologies; and (2) for each segment of such rail corridor for which the Administrator determines the technologies described in paragraph (1) cannot be implemented— (A) explain the reasoning for such determination; and (B) recommend any update to the rail corridor that would make it suitable for the implementation of such technologies and provide an estimated cost for each such update. (c) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).