Federal Railroad Administration August 22, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA's final rule primarily amends the regulations implementing a requirement of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that certain passenger and freight railroads install positive train control (PTC) systems governing operations on certain main line tracks. This final rule revises an existing regulatory exception to the requirement to install a PTC system for track segments carrying freight only that present a de minimis safety risk. The final rule also adds a new exception for PTC-unequipped freight trains associated with certain freight yard operations to operate within PTC systems. The final rule also revises the existing regulations related to en route failures of a PTC system, adds new provisions related to other failures of a PTC system, and amends the regulations on applications for approval of certain modifications of signal and train control systems. Finally, this final rule makes technical amendments to FRA's other signal and train control regulations and FRA's regulations governing highway-rail grade crossing warning systems.