Amtrak's Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control Safety Plan and Positive Train Control System

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This document provides the public with notice that, on October 26, 2026, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to one of its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plans (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 216 (Tuesday, November 10, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 10, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72612-72613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22934]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2010-0029]


Amtrak's Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control Safety Plan 
and Positive Train Control System

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

[[Page 72613]]


ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document provides the public with notice that, on October 
26, 2026, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) 
submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to one of its FRA-approved 
Positive Train Control Safety Plans (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a 
request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an 
FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing 
this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its 
PTCSP.

DATES: FRA will consider comments received by November 30, 2026. FRA 
may consider comments received after that date to the extent 
practicable and without delaying implementation of valuable or 
necessary modifications to a PTC system.

ADDRESSES: Comments: Comments 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 the 
applicable docket number. The relevant PTC docket number for this host 
railroad is Docket No. FRA-2010-0029. For convenience, all active PTC 
dockets are hyperlinked on FRA's website at <a href="https://railroads.dot.gov/research-development/program-areas/train-control/ptc/railroads-ptc-dockets">https://railroads.dot.gov/research-development/program-areas/train-control/ptc/railroads-ptc-dockets</a>. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabe Neal, Staff Director, Signal, 
Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: 816-516-7168, email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#682f090a0d46260d0904280c071c460f071e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c88fa9aaade686ada9a488aca7bce6afa7be">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In general, 49 U.S.C. 20157(h) requires FRA 
to certify that a host railroad's PTC system complies with 49 CFR part 
236, subpart I, before the technology may be operated in revenue 
service. Before making certain changes to an FRA-certified PTC system 
or the associated FRA-approved PTCSP, a host railroad must submit, and 
obtain FRA's approval of, an RFA to its PTCSP under 49 CFR 236.1021.
    Under 49 CFR 236.1021(e), FRA's regulations provide that FRA will 
publish a notice in the Federal Register and invite public comment in 
accordance with 49 CFR part 211, if an RFA includes a request for 
approval of a material modification of a signal or train control 
system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that, on October 
26, 2026, Amtrak submitted an RFA to its PTCSP for its Interoperable 
Electronic Train Management System, which seeks FRA's approval for 
updates associated with previously approved system enhancements, 
revised Amtrak and MARC high-speed operations safety analyses, updated 
risk assessment information, operational and functional clarifications, 
and associated supporting documentation. That RFA is available in 
Docket No. FRA-2010-0029.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on Amtrak's RFA to its 
PTCSP by submitting written comments or data. During FRA's review of 
this railroad's RFA, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted 
within the timeline specified in this notice and, to the extent 
practicable, without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary 
modifications to a PTC system. See 49 CFR 236.1021; see also 49 CFR 
236.1011(e). Under 49 CFR 236.1021, FRA maintains the authority to 
approve, approve with conditions, or deny a railroad's RFA to its PTCSP 
at FRA's sole discretion.

Privacy Act Notice

    In accordance with 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the 
public to inform its decisions. DOT posts these comments, without edit, 
including any personal information the commenter provides, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://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 <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>. To facilitate comment tracking, we encourage 
commenters to provide their name, or the name of their organization; 
however, submission of names is optional. If you wish to provide 
comments containing proprietary or confidential information, please 
contact FRA for alternate submission instructions.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-22934 Filed 11-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


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