Last month Rep Gillen (D,NY) introduced HR 8410, the Safe Tracks Act. The bill would require DOT to revise 49 CFR 236.911 to remove the exemption for railroad dispatch systems from the train control system standards of 49 CFR Part 236 Subpart H, Standards for processor-based signal and train control systems. No new funding is authorized.
Moving Forward
Gillen, and three of her five cosponsors {Rep Garcia (D,IL), Rep Foushee (D,NC), and Rep Nehls (R,TX)}, are members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This means that there may be sufficient influence to see the bill considered by the Committee. I suspect that there will be significant Republican opposition to this legislation since it would extend the regulatory coverage of train control systems to dispatch systems. That would have some costs for railroads associated with that change.
For more information about the provisions of this bill, including a brief look at the current regulatory framework, see my article at CFN Detailed Analysis - - subscription required.
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