The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposes a rule to update brake system safety standards for trains that use an electronic air brake slip (eABS) system. This new system would allow certain rail cars to travel longer distances between brake tests, specifically up to 2,500 miles rather than the current 1,500 miles, provided the cars meet specific criteria. The proposal includes maintaining extended records of the cars' brake tests and allowing the swapping of blocks of cars in trains without additional tests. This initiative aims to improve efficiency and reduce employee injury risks while still ensuring train safety.
Simple Explanation
The train people want to use a new computer system to help check train brakes, so trains can go longer before needing to stop for checks, as long as they have special records in the system. This change might help trains run better and keep workers safer, but people are still figuring out if it's the best idea for everyone, including small businesses and the environment.