Anonymous - Comments

Document ID: FRA-2011-0058-0006
Document Type: Public Submission
Agency: Federal Railroad Administration
Received Date: October 26 2012, at 12:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Date Posted: October 31 2012, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Start Date: October 19 2012, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Due Date: December 18 2012, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
Tracking Number: 1jw-81mg-qftq
View Document:

This is comment on Proposed Rule

Track Safety Standards; Improving Rail Integrity

View Comment

Please clarify the proposed change to Section 213.3. The revision reads "Similarly, this exclusion does not apply to track over which a general system railroad operates, even if that track is located within a plant railroad." This appears to mean that any track inside a plant over which a general system carrier operates becomes part of the general system and, thus, subject to the TSS. If so, this is a major departure from the existing rule. Presently, industry track over which a general system railroad operates (to serve the customer) must be maintained to satisfy the safety concerns of the railroad (preferably to FRA Class 1 minimum), but does not fall under the TSS. Is it the proposed case that all industry track upon which a general system railroad operates will now be covered under the TSS, even simple side tracks? This would be a dramatic expansion of coverage. How can FRA expect industry track owners to comply with TSS requirements?