Notice2026-10308

Notice of Petition for Extension 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
May 22, 2026

Issuing agencies

Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration

Abstract

This document provides the public notice that the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) petitioned FRA for an extension of relief from certain regulations concerning ECP brake systems on passenger trains.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 99 (Friday, May 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 99 (Friday, May 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 30371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10308]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2015-0078]


Notice of Petition for Extension 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 the National 
Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) petitioned FRA for an extension 
of relief from certain regulations concerning ECP brake systems on 
passenger trains.

DATES: FRA must receive comments on the petition by July 21, 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: Steven Zuiderveen, Railroad Safety 
Specialist, FRA Motive Power & Equipment Division, telephone: 202-493-
6337, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a1d2d5c4d7c4cf8fdbd4c8c5c4d3d7c4c4cfe1c5ced58fc6ced7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d1a2a5b4a7b4bfffaba4b8b5b4a3a7b4b4bf91b5bea5ffb6bea7">[email&#160;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 April 1, 2026, Amtrak petitioned FRA for an extension of a 
waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad 
safety regulations contained at 49 CFR parts 229 \1\ (Railroad 
Locomotive Safety Standards) and 238 (Passenger Equipment Safety 
Standards). FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2015-0078.
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    \1\ Although Amtrak requests relief from part 229 generally, it 
also states that it ``no longer requires relief from . . . 49 CFR 
Section [ ]229.315, Operation and maintenance manual; 49 CFR Section 
[ ]229.317, Training and qualification program; and 49 CFR Section [ 
]229.319, Operating Personnel Training.''
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    Amtrak requests extended relief from 49 CFR 238.109, Training, 
qualification, and designation program and Sec.  238.311, Single car 
test. This relief permits Amtrak to continue operating four Amfleet I 
coach cars with ECP control valves beyond the 1,476-day clean, oil, 
test, and stencil interval per Sec.  238.309(d)(2), Periodic brake 
equipment maintenance--Passenger coaches and other unpowered devices. 
Further, Amtrak requests modifications to several of the conditions in 
the June 14, 2019 decision letter related to geographic limitations, 
applicable brake rules, and reporting requirements.
    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 July 21, 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://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-10308 Filed 5-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on May 22, 2026.

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