FRA proposes recording equipment for passenger trains

Amtrak

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is proposing to require the installation of inward- and outward-facing locomotive image recording devices on all lead locomotives in passenger trains, and that these devices record while a lead locomotive is in motion and retain the data in a crashworthy memory module.

The FRA is also proposing to treat locomotive-mounted recording devices on passenger locomotives as “safety devices” under existing Federal railroad safety regulations to prohibit tampering with or disabling them. Further, this Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) would govern the use of passenger locomotive recordings to conduct operational tests to determine passenger railroad operating employees’ compliance with applicable railroad rules and Federal regulations. FRA requests comment on the need for and effects of potential, additional safety requirements.

Written comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before September 23, 2019. 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 hearing. However, if prior to August 23, 2019, FRA receives a specific request for a public hearing accompanied by a showing that the party is unable to adequately present his or her position by written statement, a hearing 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.

Source:  Federal Railroad Administration Notice of proposed rulemaking

For more information, visit federalregister.gov.

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