FRA publishes proposed rule for high-speed, high cant

According to a notice published in the May 10 Federal Register, the Federal Railroad Administration is proposing to amend the Track Safety Standards and Passenger Equipment Safety Standards applicable to high-speed and high- cant-deficiency train operations in order to promote the safe interaction of rail vehicles with the track over which they operate.

The proposal would revise
existing limits for vehicle response to track perturbations and add new limits
as well. The proposal accounts for a range of vehicle types that are currently
used and may likely be used on future high-speed or high-cant-deficiency rail
operations, or both. The proposal is based on the results of simulation studies
designed to identify track geometry irregularities associated with unsafe
wheel/rail forces and accelerations, thorough reviews of vehicle qualification
and revenue service test data, and consideration of international practices.

Written comments must be
received by July 9, 2010. Comments received after that date will be considered
to the extent possible without incurring additional expense or delay.

FRA anticipates being
able to resolve this rulemaking without a public, oral hearing. However, if FRA
receives a specific request for a public, oral hearing prior to June 9, 2010,
one will be scheduled and FRA will publish a supplemental notice in the Federal
Register to inform interested parties of the date, time, and location of any
such hearing.

Comments related to
Docket No. FRA-2009-0036 may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking
Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

Mail: Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, D.C. 20590.

Hand Delivery: Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue,
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, D.C., between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Fax: 202-493-2251.

For further information,
contact: John J. Mardente, Engineer, Office of Railroad Safety, Mail Stop 25,
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, D.C.
20590 (telephone 202-493-1335); Ali Tajaddini, Program Manager for
Vehicle/Track Interaction, Office of Railroad Policy and Development, Mail Stop
20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, D.C.
20590 (telephone 202-493-6438); or Daniel L. Alpert, Trial Attorney, Office of
Chief Counsel, Mail Stop 10, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone 202-493-6026).