[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 195 (Monday, October 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52492-52493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25635]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration


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

    Pursuant to Title 459 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 Title 49 CFR Part 236 
as detailed below.

Block Signal Application (BS-AP)-No. 3406

    Applicant: Southern Pacific Lines, Mr., J.A. Turner, Engineer--
Signals, Southern Pacific Building, One Market Plaza, San Francisco, 
California 94105.
    The Southern Pacific Lines, St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad 
seek approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the 
automatic block signal (ABS) system, associated with the spring switch 
at milepost 431.5, rear Alden Bridge, Louisiana, Central Region, 
Midwest Division, Pine Bluff Subdivision, Shreveport Line; consisting 
of the discontinuance and removal of the two eastbound trailing point 
signals at milepost 431.5, discontinuance and removal of the two 
eastbound ``D'' signal at milepost 432.8, conversion of the westbound 
facing point signal to a switch point indicator, and retention of the 
``D'' signal at milepost 429.3 as an advance switch point indicator.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the ABS system 
around the spring switch is not required for train operations, and a 
switch point indicator will provide a better operation and be less 
confusing to train crews.

BS-AP-No. 3407

    Applicants: Chicago, Central and Pacific Railroad, Mr. John D. 
McPherson, Senior Vice President--Operations, Illinois Central 
Railroad, 17641 Ashland Avenue, Homewood, Illinois 60430-1345.
    The Chicago, Central and Pacific Railroad seeks approval of the 
proposed discontinuance and removal of the existing two aspect 
automatic train stop/automatic block signal system, on the

[[Page 52493]]

single main track, between Cedar Falls, Iowa, milepost 283.5 and Fort 
Dodge, Iowa, milepost 376.1, on the Western Division, Fort Dodge 
Subdivision, associated with the installation of state of the art, 
multi-aspect, traffic control signal (TCS) and automatic block signal 
(ABC) systems, utilizing electronic coded track circuits and pole line 
elimination, at the following locations:

 TCS......................  milepost 283.5 to milepost 325.5    
 ABS......................  milepost 325.5 to milepost 327.7    
 TCS......................  milepost 327.7 to milepost 352.7    
 ABS......................  milepost 352.7 to milepost 355.6    
 TCS......................  milepost 355.6 to milepost 373.7    
 ABS......................  milepost 373.7 to milepost 376.1    
                                                                        

    The reasons given for the proposed changes are as follows:
    1. The inability to acquire replacement parts for the functionally 
and technologically obsolete, two aspect, automatic train stop (ATS) 
system, which utilizes vacuum tube technology;
    2. The existing ATS system provides only two indications, proceed 
and proceed at restricted speed, therefore reducing systems credibility 
and operation efficiency;
    3. The installation of the new TCS and ABS multi-aspect systems 
will provide train engineers more information about braking and route 
integrity, thereby improving train handling, efficiency, and safety; 
and
    4. The installation of the new systems will effectively renew all 
signal equipment on the territory with state of the art technology and 
will eliminate the existing pole line.
    Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an 
application shall set forth specifically the ground 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., Washington, D.C. 20590 within 45 
calendar days of the date of issuance 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 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 September 9, 1996.
Phil Olekszyk,
Acting Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. 96-25635 Filed 10-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-M