Provides new path for passenger safety to be evaluated and achieved; Agency invites comments on proposal
WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposed updates for the passenger train safety standards used in the United States as the country looks to add high-speed trains that can travel up to 220 miles per hour and replace its aging passenger fleet. The proposed updates represent nearly a decade of work by FRA’s passenger rail division.
“As several regions of the United States build faster passenger rail service, the trains on those tracks must keep passengers safe,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “To do that, we want to allow manufacturers to innovate and achieve all-new levels of safety. These proposed changes put us on track to do just that.”
The proposed updates would establish a new category of passenger equipment, Tier III, for trains traveling up to 220 mph. The updates would offer an alternative method for evaluating how well passengers and crews are protected in an accident, often called crashworthiness. The public, railroad industry, railroad labor, manufacturers and other stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide feedback and comment on the proposed rule during the next 60 days.
In addition to measuring a train’s crashworthiness based on whether it meets current prescriptive strength standards, the proposed changes would allow a train’s crashworthiness to be evaluated based on it meeting an equivalent level of safety achieved through crash energy management technology or other innovative engineering methods.
“We look forward to hearing from everyone on how this proposal can help our country build a stronger passenger rail network – one that is not only faster but allows for new technologies to make passenger trains even safer,” said FRA Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg.
Although Tier III trains will be required to have exclusive track to operate at speeds above 125 mph, the new standards will allow Tier III trains to safely share track with current Tier I and Tier II commuter, intercity and Acela trains. Compatibility between equipment types is a key strategy to allow trains to share existing corridors to reach downtown stations.
Click here to view the proposed updates.
Related News
- The Truth From Within: General Chairpersons From CSX Statement on Departure of CEO Joe Hinrichs
- Update on National Rail Contract –Make Sure You Get Your Ballot
- Statement from GP Coleman: Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- New law would end unfair taxation on workers’ strike pay
- Two RRB Field Offices Move to New Locations
- Reactions to the SMART-TD Guarantee with Union Pacific
- SMART-TD Members: Scholarships Available for You and Your Families
- SMART sisters, union tradeswomen unite on the water at USA TWBN fishing event
- Canceled federal funding threatens SMART members’ jobs at port projects
- President Ferguson Meets with SMART-TD Members at 3rd Annual Carolina Solidarity Shoot