Search Results for keywords:"Federal Railroad Administration"

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) has submitted a petition to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to waive certain rules related to train control systems on a section of their railway. They want permission to use locomotives equipped with positive train control (PTC) but not cab signal systems in specific areas. The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding this petition, and the government will consider all communications received by April 8, 2021. Comments will be made available online for public review.

Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) has requested an extension of a waiver from certain federal railroad safety regulations. The waiver would allow UP to skip detailed inspections on trains moving from the International Yard in El Paso, Texas, to nearby yards in Dallas Street and Alfalfa, and to Santa Teresa, New Mexico. UP argues that conducting inspections at Dallas and Alfalfa Yards is safer and more efficient. The public can review the petition online and submit comments to the Federal Railroad Administration until February 25, 2025.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has approved a test program by Georgia Central Railway and Heart of Georgia Railroad. These companies will test innovative self-propelled, zero-emission, battery-electric rail vehicles, focusing on their operational efficiency and safety. The test is divided into seven phases, and the FRA has granted temporary exemptions from some safety regulations to allow for these trials. This exemption is intended to foster the development of new and environmentally friendly rail technology that could increase competition in the short-haul transport of freight containers.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced that the Association of American Railroads (AAR) has requested an extension of relief from certain safety regulations for rail cars with end-of-car cushioning units. The AAR wants to keep using these rail cars even if they show minor leaks, as long as a condition indicator shows the cushioning unit is still working. They argue that this waiver has helped protect workers and avoid unnecessary repairs. The public can submit their comments on this request until April 2, 2025, through the official regulations website.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the Department of Transportation is seeking public comments on their Information Collection Request (ICR) before submitting it for approval. This request involves updates to the Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards (LSS) and revisions to an existing form used for locomotive inspections, which are meant to enhance safety and efficiency. These changes include new items to be reported such as different propulsion technologies and brake types. Overall, the updates have caused an increase in the estimated annual burden due to factors like more frequent inspections, an aging fleet, and the adoption of new technologies. The public is encouraged to submit comments by May 9, 2025.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received a petition from Norfolk Southern Corporation to discontinue a traffic control system on part of the D&H line. Norfolk Southern plans to modify the signal systems and change the operation to NS Rule 171 between certain mileposts. This change is requested because the existing traffic control system is no longer needed for operations. The FRA is inviting public comments on this petition, which can be submitted through various means until March 15, 2021.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), part of the Department of Transportation, issued a correction to a previous rule about highway-rail grade crossing safety standards. Initially, an error was made in the final rule published on December 14, 2020, where a reference was incorrectly linked to a non-existent paragraph. This correction fixes the mistake by correctly referring to the paragraph that lists the 10 states needing to submit updated reports electronically. This amendment is effective from February 23, 2021, and does not require public notice or comment due to the minor nature of the error.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced that the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is seeking to amend its Positive Train Control Safety Plan. Amtrak wants to increase the maximum speed of its trains from 150 miles per hour to 160 miles per hour. The FRA is inviting public comments on this request before December 23, 2024. The proposed changes involve Amtrak’s Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II and may lead to modifications of existing train control systems.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has decided to withdraw a proposed rule from October 29, 2024, concerning updates to procedures for waivers and safety-related proceedings. These updates aimed to clarify what is meant by "in the public interest" and "consistent with railroad safety" in the waiver standards. The FRA cited resource constraints and existing guidance on the topic as reasons for the withdrawal but emphasized their commitment to engaging with stakeholders on rail safety issues. The FRA may consider similar regulations in the future and appreciates the input received from stakeholders during this process.

TEXRail has submitted an updated Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP) to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for approval. This plan involves changes to their train control system, known as I-ETMS, and seeks reclassification as a "mixed" positive train control system. The FRA is asking the public to review and provide comments on this request by February 10, 2025. The FRA has the authority to approve or reject the plan, and comments can be submitted online.