FRA to Review Class I Railroad Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) over the next year will assess the safety of all Class I railroads.
FRA
FRA: CPKC Petitions for Modification of Waiver of Compliance Regarding Freight Car, Brake System Safety Standards
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) on Dec. 12, 2022, petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a modification of an existing waiver of compliance providing the Class I “limited, conditional relief” from
Amtrak Applies for FRA Grants to Upgrade Long-Distance Network, NEC Infrastructure
Amtrak on June 5 reported submitting grant applications to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for 16 proposed Long-Distance projects to improve service and for 14 proposed Northeast Corridor (NEC) projects to update infrastructure, improve stations and expand service. Total value: more than $8 billion.
Transit Briefs: Northern Lights Express, VRE, Houston Metro, TTC
Legislature dedicates $195 million for Northern Lights Express (NLX). Also, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will receive more than $20 million for two projects; the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston, Tex., Metro) partners with on-demand childcare platform TOOTRis; and the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS) resumes data collection activities.
FRA Eyes Dispatcher, Signal Employee Certification
Freight railroads, Amtrak and commuter railroads would be required to develop certification programs for network dispatchers and signal employees under new Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposals.
FRA Issues NPRM to Amend Passenger Equipment Safety Standards (UPDATED May 25)
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), proposing to amend its Passenger Equipment Safety Standards as recommended by the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC), according to an April 3 Federal Register report.
FRA Issues NOFO for Rail R&D Center of Excellence (UPDATED May 24)
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on May 1 announced that $5 million is available to establish and maintain a Rail Research and Development Center of Excellence, which will “seek to improve the safety, performance, and sustainability of freight, intercity passenger, and commuter rail.”
For House Rail Subcommittee, an Earful on Supply Chain Improvements
The rail industry’s role in overcoming supply chain challenges was the theme of a May 11 hearing of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. It was part of what the T&I Committee called its continued “focus on ongoing supply chain challenges throughout the transportation sector, with the goal of identifying potential legislative solutions.” Among the five witnesses was American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) President Chuck Baker, who urged Congress members “to wield their pen with precision.”
FRA Safety Bulletin Aims to Increase Awareness of Hand-Operated Main Track Switches
Following a train collision that occurred on April 16 involving a misaligned switch, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released a Safety Bulletin to remind railroads about ways to “ensure safe operation of hand-operated main track switches.”
FRA Issues FY22 Safety Enforcement Report
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released its annual enforcement report, summarizing regulatory compliance inspections and audits conducted in the past fiscal year by FRA or state inspectors participating in FRA’s rail safety program, as well as the civil penalty enforcement actions arising from them.