Notice2026-01326
Notice of Petition for Amendment of Waiver of Compliance
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public notice that Illinois Central Railroad Company, on behalf of itself and all US-based railroad subsidiaries of Canadian National Railway Company (CN), petitioned FRA for an amendment of relief from certain regulations concerning training requirements.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2988-2989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01326]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2020-0087]
Notice of Petition for Amendment of Waiver of Compliance
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This document provides the public notice that Illinois Central
Railroad Company, on behalf of itself and all US-based railroad
subsidiaries of Canadian National Railway Company (CN), petitioned FRA
for an amendment of relief from certain regulations concerning training
requirements.
DATES: FRA must receive comments on the petition by February 23, 2026.
FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES:
Comments: Comments related to this docket may be submitted by going
to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and following the online instructions
for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number. All comments received will be posted without change to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>; this includes any personal information.
Please see the Privacy Act heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document for Privacy Act information related to any
submitted comments or materials.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and follow the
online instructions for accessing the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Check Kam, Rail Safety Specialist, FRA
Motive Power & Equipment Division, telephone: 202-366-2139, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c3a0aba6a0a8eda8a2ae83a7acb7eda4acb5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="16757e73757d387d777b5672796238717960">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by
letter dated August 13, 2025, CN petitioned FRA for an amendment of its
existing relief from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety
regulations contained at 49 CFR part 232, Brake System Safety Standards
for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment; End-of-Train
Devices. The relevant Docket Number is FRA-2020-0087.
Specifically, CN was granted relief from Sec. 232.203(b)(8),
Training requirements, to use three-dimensional simulations using web-
based or desktop software to satisfy the ``hands-on'' portion of
required training, in connection with periodic refresher training, by
letter dated May 2, 2023. In this petition, CN requests that three of
the conditions of the May 2, 2023 letter be amended.
FRA's first condition states that simulation training applies only
to locomotive engineers and conductors responsible for performing Class
I air brake tests, but CN seeks to expand the waiver to include field
supervisors and employees performing repairs to freight cars. The third
condition states that CN must alternate between refresher training
cycles using simulation training and operational testing/field hands-on
training, and CN seeks approval to use simulation training in every
training cycle. Finally, the sixth condition allows CN employees to opt
out of simulation training; CN seeks to remove that provision, except
for certain circumstances. In support of its request, CN finds the
first condition insufficient in training its field supervisors ``and
other employees responsible for either inspecting and testing air
brakes'' and asserts that the third and sixth conditions have ``become
arbitrary.''
A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications
concerning the petition, is available for review online at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings
by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate
scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since
the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party
desires an opportunity for oral comment and a public hearing, they
should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and
specify the basis for their request.
Communications received by February 23, 2026 will be considered by
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date
will be considered if practicable.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications
and comments received into any of FRA's dockets by the name of the
individual submitting the comment (or signing the document, if
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to inform
its processes. DOT posts these
[[Page 2989]]
comments, without edit, including any personal information the
commenter provides, to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, as described in the system
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/privacy">https://www.transportation.gov/privacy</a>. See also <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice">https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice</a> for the privacy notice of <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>.
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-01326 Filed 1-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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