UP Petitions FRA for Waiver of Compliance

Union Pacific

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a petition for waiver of compliance.

According to the FRA, the document notifies the public that on November 13, 2023, Union Pacific petitioned the FRA “for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 231 (Railroad Safety Appliance Standards).” The petition Docket Number is FRA-2023-0096.

The Class I requested a waiver from 49 CFR 231.27(h), Uncoupling levers. UP wants to disable the uncoupling levers whilst moving both loaded and unloaded cars. According to the Federal Register, the cars would only be used to deliver rail ties to MoW employees throughout UP’s rail network. In addition, the cars are “equipped with additional air and electrical train lines that risk damage if the cars become inadvertently uncoupled.” UP states that the “prototype cars reduce risk for MoW personnel by eliminating the current risks associated with machine unloading of ties from gondola cars.”

The notice from the Federal Register can be read below: