National Railroad Passenger Corporation's Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control Safety Plan and Positive Train Control System, 53141 [2021-20642]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 183 / Friday, September 24, 2021 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket Number FRA–2010–0029] National Railroad Passenger Corporation’s Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control Safety Plan and Positive Train Control System Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments. AGENCY: This document provides the public with notice that the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP) on August 5, 2021. As this RFA may involve a request for FRA’s approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad’s RFA to its PTCSP. DATES: FRA will consider comments received by October 14, 2021. FRA may consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable and without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary modifications to a PTC system. ADDRESSES: Comments: Comments may be submitted by going to https:// www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions for submitting comments. Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the applicable docket number. The relevant PTC docket number for this host railroad is Docket No. FRA–2010–0029. For convenience, all active PTC dockets are hyperlinked on FRA’s website at https://railroads.dot.gov/train-control/ ptc/ptc-annual-and-quarterly-reports. All comments received will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov; this includes any personal information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabe Neal, Staff Director, Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: 816–516–7168, email: Gabe.Neal@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In general, Title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) section 20157(h) requires FRA to certify that a host railroad’s PTC system complies with 49 CFR part 236, subpart I, before the technology may be operated in revenue service. Before making SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:50 Sep 23, 2021 Jkt 253001 certain changes to an FRA-certified PTC system or the associated FRA-approved PTCSP, a host railroad must submit, and obtain FRA’s approval of, an RFA to its PTCSP under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 236.1021. Under 49 CFR 236.1021(e), FRA’s regulations provide that FRA will publish a notice in the Federal Register and invite public comment in accordance with 49 CFR part 211, if an RFA includes a request for approval of a material modification of a signal and train control system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that on August 5, 2021, Amtrak submitted an RFA to its PTCSP for its Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II) and that RFA is available in Docket No. FRA–2010–0029. Interested parties are invited to comment on Amtrak’s RFA to its PTCSP by submitting written comments or data. During FRA’s review of Amtrak’s RFA, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted within the timeline specified in this notice and to the extent practicable, without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary modifications to a PTC system. See 49 CFR 236.1021; see also 49 CFR 236.1011(e). Under 49 CFR 236.1021, FRA maintains the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or deny a railroad’s RFA to its PTCSP at FRA’s sole discretion. Privacy Act Notice In accordance with 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the public to better inform its decisions. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to https:// www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See https://www.regulations.gov/ privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. To facilitate comment tracking, we encourage commenters to provide their name, or the name of their organization; however, submission of names is completely optional. If you wish to provide comments containing proprietary or confidential information, please contact FRA for alternate submission instructions. Issued in Washington, DC. Carolyn R. Hayward-Williams, Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology. [FR Doc. 2021–20642 Filed 9–23–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 53141 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket Number FRA–2021–0091] Petition for Waiver of Compliance This document provides the public notice that on September 7, 2021, Wisconsin Central Ltd. (WCL) and Canadian National Railway Company (collectively referred to as CN) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under 49 CFR 211.51 to temporarily suspend for testing purposes, certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR 232.205, Class I brake test-initial terminal inspection. Although CN filed its petition under § 211.51, FRA concluded that considering this request under the provisions of 49 CFR part 211, subpart C, Waivers, would be more appropriate. Accordingly, FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA–2021–0091. Specifically, CN seeks relief from the requirements of § 232.205(c)(ii)(B) for testing purposes which would allow CN to operate trains with a combined air flow to the brake pipe above 90 cubic feet per minute (CFM) with no individual source of air having a flow greater than 60 CFM or 15 psi gradient. CN seeks a short duration of relief to physically test braking reaction and train performance, under conditions of higher air flow, specifically caused by the addition of air sources (air cars or locomotives) that yield a more even pressure throughout the brake pipe. CN seeks to perform the testing on the WCL Chicago to Winnipeg corridor and the CN Sprague Subdivision, from November 2021 to April 2022, to test under cold temperature conditions. CN has previously conducted similar testing through an exemption granted by Transport Canada between February and April 2020 and November 2020 and March 2021. CN reports that the program yielded positive results, demonstrating that when multiple air sources were used, trains operated at a healthy pressure level in cold weather, which resulted in cars applying an even level of braking effort and greater braking efficiency. A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at www.regulations.gov. Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to warrant a E:\FR\FM\24SEN1.SGM 24SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 183 (Friday, September 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 53141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20642]



[[Page 53141]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2010-0029]


National Railroad Passenger Corporation's Request To Amend Its 
Positive Train Control Safety Plan and Positive Train Control System

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document provides the public with notice that the 
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) submitted a request 
for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety 
Plan (PTCSP) on August 5, 2021. As this RFA may involve a request for 
FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified 
positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and 
inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

DATES: FRA will consider comments received by October 14, 2021. FRA may 
consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable 
and without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary 
modifications to a PTC system.

ADDRESSES: 
    Comments: Comments may be submitted by going to https://www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions for 
submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the 
applicable docket number. The relevant PTC docket number for this host 
railroad is Docket No. FRA-2010-0029. For convenience, all active PTC 
dockets are hyperlinked on FRA's website at https://railroads.dot.gov/train-control/ptc/ptc-annual-and-quarterly-reports. All comments 
received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov; 
this includes any personal information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabe Neal, Staff Director, Signal, 
Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: 816-516-7168, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In general, Title 49 United States Code 
(U.S.C.) section 20157(h) requires FRA to certify that a host 
railroad's PTC system complies with 49 CFR part 236, subpart I, before 
the technology may be operated in revenue service. Before making 
certain changes to an FRA-certified PTC system or the associated FRA-
approved PTCSP, a host railroad must submit, and obtain FRA's approval 
of, an RFA to its PTCSP under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) Section 236.1021.
    Under 49 CFR 236.1021(e), FRA's regulations provide that FRA will 
publish a notice in the Federal Register and invite public comment in 
accordance with 49 CFR part 211, if an RFA includes a request for 
approval of a material modification of a signal and train control 
system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that on August 5, 
2021, Amtrak submitted an RFA to its PTCSP for its Advanced Civil Speed 
Enforcement System II (ACSES II) and that RFA is available in Docket 
No. FRA-2010-0029.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on Amtrak's RFA to its 
PTCSP by submitting written comments or data. During FRA's review of 
Amtrak's RFA, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted within 
the timeline specified in this notice and to the extent practicable, 
without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary modifications 
to a PTC system. See 49 CFR 236.1021; see also 49 CFR 236.1011(e). 
Under 49 CFR 236.1021, FRA maintains the authority to approve, approve 
with conditions, or deny a railroad's RFA to its PTCSP at FRA's sole 
discretion.

Privacy Act Notice

    In accordance with 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its decisions. DOT posts these comments, 
without edit, including any personal information the commenter 
provides, to https://www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of 
records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. To facilitate 
comment tracking, we encourage commenters to provide their name, or the 
name of their organization; however, submission of names is completely 
optional. If you wish to provide comments containing proprietary or 
confidential information, please contact FRA for alternate submission 
instructions.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Carolyn R. Hayward-Williams,
Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2021-20642 Filed 9-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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