[Federal Register: December 23, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 246)]
[Notices]               
[Page 71186]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23de98-143]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

 
Notice of Application for Approval or Discontinuance or 
Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From the 
Requirements of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 236

    Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and 
49 U.S.C. App. 26, the following railroads have petitioned the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance 
or modification of the signal system or relief from the requirements of 
49 CFR part 236 as detailed below.
    Docket No. FRA-1998-4629
    Applicants: Springfield Terminal Railway Company and Maine Central 
Railway Company, Mr. J. F. West, Chief Engineer, Communications & 
Signals, Iron Horse Park, North Billerica, Massachusetts 01862.
    The Springfield Terminal Railway Company and Maine Central Railway 
Company jointly seek approval of the proposed temporary discontinuance 
and removal of the automatic block signal system, on the single main 
track, between Lewiston, Maine, milepost 158.2 and Auburn, Maine, 
milepost 165.9, until July 1999, and govern train movements by NORAC 
Rule 160, Form D, or DCS.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the signal pole 
line in the application area suffered catastrophic damage during the 
preceding winter ice storm and is not readily repairable. Design work 
is presently ongoing to replace the pole line with an in-track signal 
system associated with the installation of new highway rail grade 
crossing predictor/motion sensors within the application area.
    Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an 
application shall set forth specifically the grounds upon which the 
protest is made, and contain a concise statement of the interest of the 
Protestant in the proceeding. The original and two copies of the 
protest shall be filed with the Associate Administrator for Safety, 
FRA, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Mail Stop 25, Washington, D.C. 20590 
within 45 calendar days of the date of publication of this notice. 
Additionally, one copy of the protest shall be furnished to the 
applicant at the address listed above.
    FRA expects to be able to determine these matters without an oral 
hearing. However, if a specific request for an oral hearing is 
accompanied by a showing that the party is unable to adequately present 
his or her position by written statements, an application may be set 
for public hearing.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on December 15, 1998.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 98-33900 Filed 12-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P