[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 18163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9455]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[FRA Docket No. RST-97-1]
Petition for Waiver of Compliance; Cant Deficient Passenger Train
Operation
In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration
(FRA) received from the National Railroad Passenger Corporation
(Amtrak) a request for waiver of compliance with certain requirements
of 49 CFR Part 213: Track Safety Standards.
The purpose of Amtrak's petition is to secure approval from FRA to
operate its equipment at curving speeds producing higher cant
deficiencies on the route known as the Michigan District between
Porter, Indiana, and Kalamazoo, Michigan. Amtrak advises that this
territory is currently being upgraded to track class six standards with
a projected maximum train speed of 110 mph. Amtrak and the state of
Michigan have embarked on a long-term program to reduce trip times
between Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan. Amtrak believes that
it is important to obtain the waiver for the success of the Michigan
High-Speed Project, as it will allow speeds that take full advantage of
a FRA-funded state-of-the-art ITCS, Incremental Train Control System,
signal system being installed on this section of railroad.
Presently, section 213.57(b) permits a maximum of three inches to
be used as the underbalance term (cant deficiency) in the formulation
of curve/speed tables by track maintenance engineers defining train
speeds for curved track superelevations for any route between two
points. Section 213.57 refers to maximum allowable train operating
speeds on curves as a function of existing curvature and superelevation
and, further, introduces the concept of unbalanced superelevation. The
idea of trains negotiating curved track at speeds producing either
positive or negative unbalance was discussed previously in the Federal
Register (52 FR 38035, October 13, 1987).
Amtrak seeks to operate Superliner I, Superliner II, and High-level
equipment at curving speeds producing four inches of cant deficiency;
and Amfleet I, Amfleet II, Horizon, Heritage, Cab Car, F40 Cab Car
(NPCU), MHC, F40PH, P32-BWH, P40-BH, and P42-BH equipment at curving
speeds producing up to six inches of cant deficiency.
In its petition, Amtrak states that it successfully operated train
equipment at higher cant deficiencies under several waivers, including
a waiver to operate passenger trains at curving speeds producing five
inches of cant deficiency between New Haven, Connecticut, and Boston,
Massachusetts, on its Northeast Corridor. Amtrak advises that some
equipment types in this petition have been successfully tested at up to
eight inches of cant deficiency.
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 these proceedings should identify the
appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number RST-97-
1) and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office of
Chief Counsel, FRA, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20590. Communications received within 45 days of the
date 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 FRA's temporary docket room located at 1120 Vermont
Avenue, N.W., Room 7051, Washington, D.C. 20005.
Issued in Washington, D.C. on March 31, 1997.
Phil Olekszyk,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program
Implementation.
[FR Doc. 97-9455 Filed 4-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
