Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to discontinue or modify its signal systems, specifically the automatic train control (ATC) and automatic cab signal (ACS) systems. The petition, submitted on January 14, 2021, argues that the positive train control (PTC) system, along with new operating rules and equipped switches, provides a higher safety level than ATC/ACS alone. The FRA has made the petition available at www.regulations.gov for public participation and invites written comments by March 15, 2021. If stakeholders believe a public hearing is necessary, they must notify the FRA in writing before the comment period ends.
Simple Explanation
Union Pacific Railroad wants to stop using old train safety systems because they have a new, better one. They’ve asked for permission, and people can tell the train bosses what they think before March 15, 2021, by writing comments online.