[Federal Register: May 10, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 89)] [Notices] [Page 25114-25115] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr10my99-150] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Petition for Reconsideration of Waiver of Compliance In accordance with Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Sections 211.9 and 211.41 notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has received a request for reconsideration of a waiver of compliance from certain requirements of Federal railroad safety regulations. The individual petition is described below, including the parties seeking relief, the regulatory provisions involved and the nature of the relief being requested. National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Waiver Petition Docket Number H-96-1) The Federal Railroad Administration has received a request from the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to modify conditions set forth in the conditionally approved Petition for Waiver of Compliance, H-96-1. That waiver is for the development, testing, installation, and demonstration of a communication-based train control system in Amtrak's Detroit to Chicago Corridor. Amtrak requests that Condition No. 1, of H-96-1, ``Waiver is not for revenue service,'' be changed to include daily revenue service trains, with newly defined conditions. The waiver granted permission to operate a test train at speeds exceeding 79 MPH, but not to exceed 110 MPH, with the following conditions: 1. Waiver is not for revenue service. 2. Compliance with Test Plan 081776-070 REV. A04. 3. Waiver is granted until July 1, 1997. 4. FRA reserves the right to modify or rescind this waiver upon receipt of information pertaining to the safety of rail operations or in the event of noncompliance with the conditions of this approval. (Condition 3 has since been modified twice, with the waiver currently granted until December of 1999.) A test train was operated successfully at speeds up to 100 MPH in the fall of 1996. Much was accomplished in these tests, much data was collected, and the supplier of this system, Harmon Industries, is currently deeply involved in the integration of the system. This integration involves an exhaustive investigation of all possible failure modes of the train control system in order to be able to certify the fail-safety of the system when the final release to Amtrak is made for in-service testing for revenue service. It has become apparent the vendor will not be able to fully complete the validation and verification of the wayside and location processor subsystems until mid-year 2000, and the host (on-board) processor subsystem until the end of the third quarter of year 2001. The partners in this project believe that an important part of the development of this project, that must not be delayed, is the next step in [[Page 25115]] testing to determine the reliability of the system in regular revenue service. In view of the significant delays encountered in developing the full validation and verification, Amtrak now would like to commence testing the system in revenue service. They propose that the system actually be placed in daily service for a significant ``burn-in'' period with close monitoring to develop the availability/reliability of the system. This would be done in parallel with the ongoing validation and verification effort, and would be done in such a way that it would not have an adverse impact on the revenue service trains. Initially, revenue service trains would be ITCS equipped and operated through the ITCS test territory with the P2A valve cut out and no ITCS operating rules in effect, at speeds not to exceed 79 MPH. After this first 90 day period the P2A valve would be cut in and ITCS operating rules would be in effect, with maximum speed being 79 MPH for an additional 90 days. Further, Amtrak requests that the limits of the test bed for the purpose of this waiver, be extended as wayside equipment is cut-over, eastward from Signal 175 to Signal 150 west of Oshtemo, Michigan, and westward from Signal 195 to Signal 216, west of Three Oaks, Michigan. Amtrak's proposed timetables are: ITCS Cutover, P2A valve cut out Estimated Duration--90 days Maximum Passenger Speed--79 MPH Location--Signal 175 (M.P.175.2) to Signal 195 (M.P. 195.55) ITCS Operating Rules not in effect Commence--April 1999 P2A valve cut-in Estimated Duration--90 days Maximum Passenger Speed--79 MPH Location--Signal 175 (M.P.175.2) to Signal 195 (M.P. 195.55) ITCS Operating Rules in effect Commence--July 1999 ITCS data from the following sources will be evaluated via remote modem technology from Harmon's Grain Valley technical facility: Departure Test Devices Wayside Interface Units and Wayside Interface Unit-Servers Locomotive and Non-Powered Control Units On-board Computer Home and Intermediate Signals Grade Crossings Revenue Service, Limited Estimated Duration--300 days Maximum Passenger Speed--90 MPH Location--Signal 150 to Signal 216 ITCS Operating Rules in effect Commence--October 1999 FRA feels that Amtrak can continue, under H-96-1 existing conditions, with ITCS Cutover, P2A Cut-Out. This is a 90 day period allowing for wayside equipment cutover, and on-board data gathering within the 20 mile test bed and at speeds not to exceed 79 MPH, with no ITCS rules in effect, and the P2A valve not cut-in to the ITCS. This period is to commence in April 1999. 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, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request. All communications concerning this proceedings should identify by the docket number (1) and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PI-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Communications received within 30 days of this notice will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All written communications concerning these proceedings are available for examination during regular business hours (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) at DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PL-401 (Plaza Level), 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001. All documents in the public docket are also available for inspection and copying on the internet at the docket facility's Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. Issued in Washington, DC on May 3, 1999. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development. [FR Doc. 99-11624 Filed 5-7-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P