Notice2026-07182

Petitions for Special Approval of One-Person Train Crew Operations

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
April 14, 2026

Issuing agencies

Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration

Abstract

This document provides the public notice that Georgia Central Railway (GC) petitioned FRA for special approval to operate with a one- person train crew.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19261-19262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07182]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2026-0563]


Petitions for Special Approval of One-Person Train Crew 
Operations

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document provides the public notice that Georgia Central 
Railway (GC) petitioned FRA for special approval to operate with a one-
person train crew.

DATES: Comments: FRA must receive comments on the petition by May 14, 
2026. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments: You may submit comments identified by the docket 
number FRA-2026-0563 via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> 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: Christian Holt, Staff Director, 
Operating Practices Division, FRA, telephone: 202-366-0978, email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1b5d495a544b585e494f4b49545c5b7f746f357c746d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="793f2b3836293a3c2b2d292b363e391d160d571e160f">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>; or Alan Nagler, Attorney Adviser, FRA, 
telephone: 202-657-2848, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#68090409064606090f040d1a280c071c460f071e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c7a6aba6a9e9a9a6a0aba2b587a3a8b3e9a0a8b1">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) part 218, subpart G, this document provides the public notice 
that by letter dated November 7, 2025 GC petitioned FRA for special 
approval of a one-person train crew operation in Docket Number FRA-
2026-0563.
    Specifically, GC seeks special approval under 49 CFR 218.135, 
Special approval procedure, to initiate a one-person train crew 
operation in two locations: the Macon Subdivision and the Savannah 
Subdivision. FRA's preliminary review indicates that the special 
approval petition included the information required in 49 CFR 
218.131(b). GC must not implement the operation until it receives FRA's 
approval that the petition is as safe or safer than a two-person 
minimum train crew.
    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

[[Page 19262]]

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 parties desire 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 May 14, 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 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://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Whether or not commenters identify themselves, all 
timely comments will be fully considered. If you wish to provide 
comments containing proprietary or confidential information, please 
contact the agency for alternate submission instructions.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-07182 Filed 4-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on April 14, 2026.

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