A programmable frequency termination shunt suitable to terminate a portion of a railroad track circuit. The programmable frequency termination shunt includes a multi-frequency shunt circuit having a plurality of selectable shunt frequencies and a processor coupled to the multi-frequency shunt circuit. The processor is adapted to set the termination frequency of the shunt by selecting one of the shunt frequencies of the multi-frequency shunt circuit. The shunt is powered by signals transmitted along the rails of the railroad track and can be programmed in response to signals from a rail-based communication link or a wireless communication link.