🚆Retirement of FRA Forms and Regulatory Updates in 49 CFR Part 225
This proposed rule would retire Form FRA F 6180.107, "Alternative Record for Illnesses Claimed to be Work-Related" (Form 6180.107), and Form FRA F 6180.150, "Highway User Injury Inquiry Form" (Form 6180.150). The proposed rule would also change the record retention period required under FRA's accident reporting regulations and make other technical corrections.
Learn More🚂Proposed Changes to Conductor Certification Regulations by FRA
This proposed rule would update FRA's conductor certification requirements by reducing the information that is required on a conductor's certificate and allowing certificates to be electronic. FRA is also proposing changes to the certification revocation process and the Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO) process. Lastly, FRA is proposing other administrative updates including revising definitions and correcting errors in the regulatory text.
Learn More🚆Regulatory Updates on Signal System Modifications by FRA
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's instructions governing applications for approval of a discontinuance or material modification of a signal system regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
Learn More🚂Proposed Rule on Enforcement Discretion by the FRA
This proposed rule would clarify that FRA's Office of the Chief Counsel has discretion to decline or dismiss a violation, such as a technical violation where challenged conduct does not raise a practical safety issue.
Learn More🚆Administrative Updates on Locomotive Cab Safety Regulations
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's locomotive cab occupational safety and health regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
Learn More🚂Proposed Rule for Locomotive Horn Sounding Flexibility
This proposed rule would provide greater flexibility for compliance with FRA's train horn regulation. Specifically, this proposed rule would allow for regulatory relief from the required pattern of sounding the locomotive horn in two long blasts, one short blast, and one long blast where trains, locomotive consists, and individual locomotives have stopped in close proximity to a public highway-rail grade crossing location. This proposed rule would instead allow locomotive engineers to vary the pattern of sounding the locomotive horn to only one single blast of the horn as they enter onto and cross over these grade crossing locations.
Learn More🚆FRA Repeals Redundant Reporting Requirement for Railroads
FRA is removing one requirement from its regulations governing positive train control (PTC) systems. This rule repeals a redundant regulatory requirement for railroads to file a Report of PTC System Performance (Form FRA F 6180.152) biannually, as the Passenger Rail Expansion and Rail Safety Act of 2021 requires railroads to submit that exact report to FRA quarterly.
Learn More🚧Proposed Rule on Bridge Load Capacity Evaluation Requirements
FRA proposes to eliminate the Federal requirement that defines the process a track owner must follow when scheduling the evaluation of bridges with no load capacity determination. The requirement was intended as a transitional measure to phase in compliance after the bridge safety regulations became effective. The restrictions on the track owner's discretion to determine the process for evaluation of bridge load capacity are no longer necessary because the regulations have been in effect for almost fifteen years and the transitional period for compliance has ended.
Learn More🚂New Proposed Rule on Railroad Horn Usage at Passenger Stations
FRA proposes to amend its safety standards related to the use of the locomotive horn to clarify that no Federal regulation requires a railroad to sound a locomotive horn because of the presence of a passenger station. The proposed rule would clarify that a railroad has discretion to determine policies for sounding a locomotive horn at a passenger station through railroad operating rules. The proposed rule would also provide that if a railroad decides to sound a locomotive horn at a passenger station, the minimum sound level requirements in FRA's Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards would not apply to the sound produced by the horn.
Learn More🚂Administrative Updates to Railroad Accident Reporting Regulations
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's railroad accidents/incidents: reports classification, and investigations reporting regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
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