PRESS RELEASE

City of Seabrook Announces Quiet Zone in Effect Along New Rail Spur

No Train Horn The City of Seabrook, in partnership with Port Houston, announces that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has officially confirmed that the Quiet Zone designation is now in effect along the rail spur near the intersection of SH 146 and Red Bluff Road. The Quiet Zone was added to train orders and became effective February 11, 2026.

The Quiet Zone designation represents a significant milestone made possible through long-term coordination among the City of Seabrook, Port Houston, Union Pacific Railroad, and the FRA.

With the Quiet Zone now active, trains traveling through the designated crossings are no longer required to sound their horns routinely, provided all federally required safety measures remain in place.

A Process More Than a Decade in the Making

The Quiet Zone designation marks the successful completion of a process that began more than a decade ago. In November 2015, the City of Seabrook filed a Notice of Intent to establish a Quiet Zone at three railroad crossings.

Following this initial step, Port Houston completed construction of the rail spur serving the area, which was a required component before the City could proceed with final authorization. Port Houston also invested in key safety upgrades at the Seabrook crossings to support Quiet Zone eligibility, including enhanced signage, flashing signals, automated crossing gates, and other federally required safety measures.

After completion of the rail spur and required safety improvements, the City filed a Notice of Establishment. The FRA officially confirmed Quiet Zone status on February 11, 2026.

Train Horns May Still Be Used When Safety Requires It

While routine horn sounding is no longer required in the Quiet Zone, train horns will still be used in certain situations where safety is a priority. This includes emergencies, such as when a person or vehicle is on or near the tracks, when trains begin moving from a stop, or when maintenance operations are underway.

Union Pacific has advised that because this is a newly established Quiet Zone, there may be a short transition period during which some engineers may mistakenly sound the horn out of habit. This is expected to be temporary.

How Residents Can Report Ongoing Issues

The City encourages residents to report any ongoing or excessive train horn activity at one of the three designated crossings so that concerns can be addressed promptly, in coordination with Union Pacific and the FRA.

If train horn activity is observed through the designated crossings, residents should report the following minimum information directly to Union Pacific or the FRA:

Date
Time
Crossing location

Union Pacific

Phone: (402) 544-5000 or (888) 870-8777
Online: www.up.com/notifyup

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

Email: Web@dot.gov or rrswebinquiries@dot.gov
Online: Violation Reporting Form

If available, residents may also include the engine number to help identify the train crew involved.

The City of Seabrook recognizes the partnership and coordination with Port Houston, Union Pacific Railroad, and the Federal Railroad Administration throughout this multi-year effort. Establishing the Quiet Zone represents a meaningful quality-of-life improvement for residents and businesses while maintaining critical rail safety standards.

Learn more about train horns and quiet zones on the Federal Railroad Administration Website and the Union Pacific Website.