Notice2026-18384
Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System
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
September 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public notice that Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS) petitioned FRA seeking approval to discontinue or modify a signal system.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 173 (Wednesday, September 9, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 57439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18384]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2026-2377]
Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or
Modification of a Railroad Signal System
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document provides the public notice that Norfolk Southern
Railway Company (NS) petitioned FRA seeking approval to discontinue or
modify a signal system.
DATES: FRA must receive comments on the petition by November 9, 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: Scott Johnson, Railroad Safety
Specialist, FRA Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division,
telephone: 406-210-3608, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3e4d5d514a4a105410545156504d51507e5a514a10595148"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="374454584343195d195d585f594458597753584319505841">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under part 235 of title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the
public notice that by letter dated April 19, 2026, NS petitioned FRA
seeking approval to discontinue or modify a signal system. FRA assigned
the petition Docket Number FRA-2026-2377.
Specifically, NS requests to discontinue legacy cab signal systems
and transition the subject territory to a block system implementation
enforced by positive train control (PTC). The change would be
implemented on 14 line segments and would eliminate redundancy between
PTC and cab signaling.
NS states that the discontinuance will maintain and enhance
operational safety in the area by ``consolidating movement authority
supervision and speed enforcement'' into NS's existing PTC system. This
is intended to ``reduc[e] the potential for conflicting indications
between parallel systems'' and ``eliminat[e] failure modes associated
with coded track-circuit cab signal transmission.''
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 November 9, 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 better
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. 2026-18384 Filed 9-8-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 9, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.