[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