United States: CBP Proposes Advance Passenger Data for All Cross-Border Trains

October 13, 2026 — US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed making railroads send passenger and crew details to CBP before any train crosses the US border with Canada or Mexico. The proposal was published in the Federal Register today, and public comments are open until December 14, 2026.

What CBP is proposing

Who it applies to: Rail carriers running trains that enter or leave the US, covering every passenger and crew member, including trains passing through the US in transit. Today this reporting is voluntary; CBP says only one passenger carrier currently takes part. The notice does not name specific carriers or routes.
When data is due: Traveler information no later than 60 minutes before the train departs; a notice of the train’s arrival or departure at least 24 hours before it reaches the border. Changes must be sent before the train leaves the next stop.
What travelers’ data is sent: Name, date of birth, sex, citizenship, country of residence, travel document type, number, issuing country and expiration date, full itinerary, and a US address for those not in transit. Optional items include a Known Traveler Number, redress number and seat location.
Vetting: CBP would screen the list and could recommend that a carrier not board a flagged traveler; the carrier keeps the final decision. Carriers would also have to check travel documents against the data they send.
Status: Proposed rule only (docket USCBP-2026-0992). Effective date: TBA, after a final rule is issued.

What it means for airline travelers

Nothing changes yet. If the rule is adopted, cross-border train trips would work more like flights: your passport details would need to be with the railroad before departure, so last-minute boarding could become harder.
Make sure the name and passport details in any cross-border rail booking match your travel document exactly.
Anyone can comment on the proposal through the Federal Register page until December 14, 2026.