FRA issues final rule on concrete ties

The Federal Railroad Administration published its final rule regarding concrete crossties. A portion of the rule as published in the Federal Register reads: "FRA is amending the Federal Track Safety Standards to promote the safety of railroad operations over track constructed with concrete crossties. In particular, FRA is mandating specific requirements for effective concrete crossties, for rail fastening systems connected to concrete crossties, and for automated inspections of track constructed with concrete crossties. "In this final rule, FRA is establishing standards for the maintenance of concrete crossties in track Classes 1 through 5. Specifically, FRA is establishing limits for rail seat abrasion, concrete crosstie pad wear limits, missing or broken rail fasteners, loss of appropriate toeload pressure, improper fastener configuration and excessive lateral rail movement. FRA is also adding a section requiring the automated inspection of track constructed with concrete crossties."