FRA proposes to amend its regulations governing the qualification and certification of locomotive engineers and conductors to establish English language proficiency as a requirement for a railroad carrier to certify and recertify locomotive engineers and conductors. FRA also proposes that each railroad carrier conducting a triennial examination of skill performance, and an annual operational monitoring observation for locomotive engineers, which are current requirements, conduct those examinations and observations without engaging energy management systems that limit the need for a locomotive engineer to operate the throttle or braking systems. Further, FRA proposes to codify limitations on operations at the southern border, including a 10 route-mile geographic limitation, to ensure domestic training, testing, and certification requirements for Mexican crew members are adequate. In addition, FRA proposes changes to clarify that a locomotive engineer or conductor's territorial qualification is limited to the specific direction of travel traversed during the qualification process.
Comments close Sep 29, 2026
On May 15, 2026, FRA published an NPRM proposing to rescind FRA's final rule requiring the certification of signal employees. By this notice, FRA is extending the NPRM's comment period by an additional 30 days.
Comments close Aug 13, 2026
On May 15, 2026, FRA published an NPRM proposing to rescind FRA's May 21, 2024 final rule requiring the certification of dispatchers. By this notice, FRA is extending the NPRM's comment period by 30 days.
Comments close Aug 13, 2026
This document responds to petitions for reconsideration of FRA's May 21, 2024 final rule addressing the Certification of Signal Employees. Based on FRA's review and analysis of the issues raised in the petitions for reconsideration, this document proposes to rescind the final rule.
Comments close Jul 14, 2026
This document responds to petitions for reconsideration of FRA's May 21, 2024 final rule addressing the Certification of Dispatchers. Based on FRA's review and analysis of the issues raised in the petitions for reconsideration, this document proposes to rescind the final rule.
Comments close Jul 14, 2026
FHWA, FRA, and FTA are publishing this interim final rule (IFR) to modify the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that apply to all three agencies to be consistent with the removal of regulations previously issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the amendments to NEPA included in the section of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 known as the Building United States Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act of 2023, and amendments regarding efficient environmental reviews included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. This rule will become effective immediately while the agencies seek comment on what further changes may be appropriate.
Comments close Aug 4, 2025
This proposed rule would retire Form FRA F 6180.107, "Alternative Record for Illnesses Claimed to be Work-Related" (Form 6180.107), and Form FRA F 6180.150, "Highway User Injury Inquiry Form" (Form 6180.150). The proposed rule would also change the record retention period required under FRA's accident reporting regulations and make other technical corrections.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to amend its freight car safety regulations to repeal the requirement for special approval to place or continue a freight car in service if it is more than 50 years old or equipped with any design or type component listed in appendix A to this part. Instead, railroads would be able to continue or place such "overage" cars in service after complying with uniform safety requirements. Those requirements would include comprehensive shop inspections by a designated inspector, single-car air brake testing, recordkeeping, and, as appropriate, stenciling. The proposed requirements are consistent with the most important conditions that FRA now requires through the existing special approval process. Repealing the special approval process and replacing it with the proposed, uniform requirements would provide equivalent safety outcomes while reducing burdens on railroads and eliminating the added delay involved in petitioning FRA for a special approval.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to repeal the runoff parameter from its track surface requirements for track Classes 1 through 5. FRA has found that other geometry requirements in FRA's regulations already capture the same safety concerns.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to exclude railroad freight cars used exclusively for tourist, historic, excursion, educational, recreational, or private purposes and that are not interchanged from the requirement that all restricted freight cars, including cars more than 50 years old, be stenciled with specific information.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to amend regulations concerning freight car draft arrangement and end-of-car cushioning units (EOCCs) to make regulatory relief now provided by waiver permanent. The amendments would allow a freight car to remain in service if the EOCC is operative and equipped with a unit condition indicator (UCI) that indicates a non-discharged EOCC. This change would permit those EOCCs to remain in service despite the presence of clearly formed oil droplets on the unit. The amendments, if finalized, preserve the requirement to repair or replace an EOCC with clearly formed oil droplets if the unit does not have a UCI.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
This proposed rule would revise the definition of a non- traversable curb in FRA's train horn regulation in conformance with five longstanding FRA Safety Board waivers that allow highway speeds up to 45 miles per hour (mph) where these highway curbs are present.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA intends to remove thirteen sections throughout its regulations that unnecessarily recite the approval of information collection requirements by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), state the assigned OMB control number associated with the entire CFR part, and list the sections in that part with information collection requirements.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
This proposed rule would make various miscellaneous amendments to FRA's accident reporting regulations. Specifically, these amendments would promote submitting documents to FRA electronically, would eliminate redundant regulations, and would allow railroads with additional time to complete certain forms.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
This proposed rule would provide greater flexibility for compliance with FRA's train horn regulation. Specifically, this proposed rule would allow for regulatory relief from the required pattern of sounding the locomotive horn in two long blasts, one short blast, and one long blast where trains, locomotive consists, and individual locomotives have stopped in close proximity to a public highway-rail grade crossing location. This proposed rule would instead allow locomotive engineers to vary the pattern of sounding the locomotive horn to only one single blast of the horn as they enter onto and cross over these grade crossing locations.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
This proposed rule would allow railroads to satisfy the requirement of electronically posting a listing of all injuries and occupational illnesses at an establishment. This proposed rule also removes some of the requirements for what information railroads must include in these listings.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
This proposed rule would update FRA's locomotive engineer certification requirements by reducing the information that is required on an engineer's certificate and allowing certificates to be electronic. FRA is also proposing changes to the certification revocation process and the Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO) process. Lastly, FRA is proposing other administrative updates including revising definitions and correcting errors in the regulatory text.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
This proposed rule would update FRA's conductor certification requirements by reducing the information that is required on a conductor's certificate and allowing certificates to be electronic. FRA is also proposing changes to the certification revocation process and the Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO) process. Lastly, FRA is proposing other administrative updates including revising definitions and correcting errors in the regulatory text.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to eliminate the Federal requirement that defines the process a track owner must follow when scheduling the evaluation of bridges with no load capacity determination. The requirement was intended as a transitional measure to phase in compliance after the bridge safety regulations became effective. The restrictions on the track owner's discretion to determine the process for evaluation of bridge load capacity are no longer necessary because the regulations have been in effect for almost fifteen years and the transitional period for compliance has ended.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to amend its mechanical equipment safety standards related to brake inspections for passenger and freight rail equipment. The proposed changes focus on the incorporation of longstanding waivers for locomotive brake system maintenance and inspection requirements. The amendments are consistent with the mandates of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which require FRA to review and analyze certain longstanding waivers to determine whether incorporating the waivers into FRA's regulations is justified, and the Executive Order for Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President's "Department of Government Efficiency" Deregulatory Initiative.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to amend its regulations governing the qualification and certification of locomotive engineers and conductors, to codify longstanding waivers that have granted relief from certain certification requirements for railroads that participate in the FRA- sponsored Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C\3\RS). FRA does not intend this NPRM to be a disincentive to railroads implementing alternative close call reporting programs outside C\3\RS, which the agency believes can still positively impact safety culture. FRA would still entertain waiver requests to implement alternative close call reporting programs, as necessary.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to amend its locomotive safety regulations to expand the maximum permitted variation in diameter for locomotive wheel sets using alternating current technology, in response to a Class I railroad's May 2019 petition for rulemaking and innovations in traction motor control.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to allow railroads to use three-dimensional virtual simulation to satisfy the hands-on portion of periodic refresher training under FRA's brake system training requirements, consistent with waivers FRA has granted to date. FRA has found that such virtual training provides employees with randomized scenarios that may not be readily available for hands-on training and real-time feedback on performance of duties.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to amend its safety standards related to the use of the locomotive horn to clarify that no Federal regulation requires a railroad to sound a locomotive horn because of the presence of a passenger station. The proposed rule would clarify that a railroad has discretion to determine policies for sounding a locomotive horn at a passenger station through railroad operating rules. The proposed rule would also provide that if a railroad decides to sound a locomotive horn at a passenger station, the minimum sound level requirements in FRA's Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards would not apply to the sound produced by the horn.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
This proposed rule would update FRA's railroad safety enforcement procedures and rules of practice to require electronic service of documents. This proposed rule would also establish procedures to implement new authority regarding civil penalties for alleged Federal railroad safety violations. Finally, this proposal would make other necessary administrative updates, such as correcting addresses.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
This proposed rule would clarify that FRA's Office of the Chief Counsel has discretion to decline or dismiss a violation, such as a technical violation where challenged conduct does not raise a practical safety issue.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
FRA proposes to repeal several roadway workplace safety requirements that have become obsolete. In addition, FRA proposes to establish a new special approval procedure to enable regulated entities, after public notice and FRA approval, to utilize an alternative approach to bridge worker safety that provides for an equivalent or better level of safety. Also, this rule proposes to clarify that the required training for operators of roadway maintenance machines equipped with a crane includes specific aspects such as maintaining vertical clearance.
Comments close Sep 2, 2025
In response to petitions for rulemaking, FRA is issuing this final rule to amend its regulation on Training, Qualification, and Oversight for Safety-Related Railroad Employees (Training Rule) to codify agency guidance and clarify existing requirements.
This rule updates FRA's conductor certification requirements to reduce the information required on a conductor's certificate and allowing certificates to be electronic. This rule also changes the certification revocation process and the Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO) process. Lastly, this rule makes administrative updates, including revising definitions and correcting errors in the regulatory text.
This rule revises the definition of a non-traversable curb in FRA's train horn regulation in conformance with five longstanding FRA waivers that allow highway speeds up to 45 miles per hour (mph) where these highway curbs are present in quiet zones established and maintained in accordance with the regulation.
This rule updates FRA's locomotive engineer certification requirements to reduce the information required on a locomotive engineer's certificate, and allowing certificates to be electronic. This rule also changes the certification revocation process and the Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO) process. Lastly, this rule makes administrative updates, including revising definitions and correcting errors in the regulatory text.
This rule excludes railroad freight cars used exclusively for tourist, historic, excursion, educational, recreational, or private purposes and that are not interchanged from the requirement that all restricted freight cars, including cars more than 50 years old, be stenciled with specific information.
This rule allows railroads to satisfy the requirement to post a listing of all injuries and occupational illnesses at an establishment electronically. This rule also removes the requirement that these postings be signed by the preparer of the listing.
This rule eliminates the Federal requirement that defines the process a track owner must follow when scheduling the evaluation of bridges with no load capacity determination. The requirement was intended as a transitional measure to phase in compliance after the bridge safety regulations became effective and is no longer necessary because the regulations have been in effect for almost 15 years and the transitional period for compliance has ended.
This rule amends FRA regulations governing the qualification and certification of locomotive engineers and conductors, to codify longstanding waivers that have granted relief from certain certification requirements for railroads that participate in the FRA- sponsored Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C\3\RS).
On July 1, 2025, FRA published a final rule making miscellaneous, administrative updates to its State safety participation regulations. In that rule, FRA inadvertently removed language from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which necessitates this technical amendment to effectuate FRA's intent.
This final rule clarifies that FRA's Office of the Chief Counsel has discretion to decline or dismiss a violation, such as a technical violation where challenged conduct does not raise a practical safety issue.
This rule removes thirteen unnecessary and outdated sections throughout FRA's regulations referencing the approval of information collection requirements by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
This rule repeals the runoff parameter from FRA's track surface requirements for track Classes 1 through 5. FRA has found that other geometry requirements in FRA's regulations already address the same safety issue.
This rule updates FRA's railroad safety enforcement procedures and rules of practice to require electronic service of documents. This rule also establishes procedures to implement new authority regarding civil penalties for alleged Federal railroad safety violations. Finally, this rule makes other necessary administrative updates, such as correcting addresses.
This rule amends the standards for Reflectorization of Rail Freight Rolling Stock (Reflectorization Standards or Part 224) to codify waivers and remove the outdated implementation schedule. The changes are expected to enhance safety, promote innovation, clarify existing requirements, and reduce unnecessary paperwork burdens. The amendments are consistent with the mandate of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which requires FRA to review and analyze certain longstanding waivers to determine whether incorporating the waivers into FRA's regulations is justified.
This document extends the compliance dates in the emergency escape breathing apparatus final rule published on January 26, 2024. FRA is extending the compliance dates in response to concerns raised in a joint petition for reconsideration, as well as FRA's own investigation into the feasibility of these dates.
FRA is withdrawing the direct final rule titled "Federal Railroad Administration Accident/Incident Investigation Policy for Gathering Information and Consulting with Stakeholders," (the Rule) which was published on October 1, 2024.
This final rule updates the definition of "person" in FRA's regulations to provide for regulatory consistency. FRA is making these clarifying changes to better align with FRA's safety jurisdiction and to conform definitions in FRA's older regulations with the definition of "person" that FRA has used in its most recent rulemakings. In one section where "person" is defined, FRA is also replacing references to specific penalty amounts with general references to FRA's minimum civil monetary penalty, ordinary maximum civil monetary penalty, and aggravated maximum civil monetary penalty amounts, consistent with FRA's current practice.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's critical incident stress plans regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's risk reduction program regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's system safety program regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This final rule modernizes requirements related to a dispatcher's record of train movements. Specifically, it will eliminate the reference to the telegraph and the need for rail carriers to record weather conditions at 6-hour intervals, as outdated and redundant, respectively.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's safety integration plans regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's training, qualification, and oversight regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's grade crossing safety regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's instructions governing applications for approval of a discontinuance or material modification of a signal system regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's brake system safety standards regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's signal and train control regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's signal systems reporting requirements regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's U.S. locational requirement for dispatching of U.S. rail operations regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's passenger equipment safety standards regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's bridge safety standards regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's passenger train emergency preparedness regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
FRA is removing one requirement from its regulations governing positive train control (PTC) systems. This rule repeals a redundant regulatory requirement for railroads to file a Report of PTC System Performance (Form FRA F 6180.152) biannually, as the Passenger Rail Expansion and Rail Safety Act of 2021 requires railroads to submit that exact report to FRA quarterly.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's railroad safety appliance standards regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's locomotive cab occupational safety and health regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's railroad communications regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's use of locomotive horns at public highway-rail grade crossings regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's railroad locomotive safety standards regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's steam locomotive inspection and maintenance standards regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's safety glazing standards regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's rear end marking device regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's railroad accidents/incidents: reports classification, and investigations reporting regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's reflectorization regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's passenger train employee hours of service and recordkeeping regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's state safety participation regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's track safety standards, including updating addresses.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's rules of practice regulations, including updating addresses in those regulations.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's railroad operating practices regulations, including updating addresses.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's control of alcohol and drug use regulations, including updating addresses.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's railroad freight car safety standards, including updating addresses.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's special notice and emergency order procedures: railroad track, locomotive and equipment, including updating addresses.
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's railroad workplace safety regulations, including updating addresses.
FRA is withdrawing the direct final rule titled "Federal Railroad Administration Accident/Incident Investigation Policy for Gathering Information and Consulting with Stakeholders," (the Rule) which was published on October 1, 2024.
