[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 26347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12416]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration
[FRA Docket No. H-97-1]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    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 a test train at speeds up to 135 mph between County (MP 34) and 
MP 54, 1.7 miles east of Ham (MP 55.7) on the Metropolitan Division of 
Amtrak's Northeast Corridor in the spring of 1997. Amtrak currently 
operates trains at 125 mph under waiver in this track segment. To 
conduct this testing, Amtrak seeks relief from the requirements of 49 
CFR Section 213.9, which limits maximum permissible train speeds to 110 
mph. The schedule for the testing has not been finalized, but will be 
limited to a few days depending upon weather conditions.
    In preparation for operating the new high-speed trainsets between 
New York City, New York, and Washington, D.C., Amtrak needs to evaluate 
the high-speed dynamic forces on pantograph assemblies in a 
configuration similar to the new trainsets. In order to perform this 
evaluation, Amtrak requests to operate a test train consisting of two 
AEM-7 electric locomotives and six Amfleet cars, including Amtrak's 
Track Geometry Car.
    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 H-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 May 7, 1997.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 97-12416 Filed 5-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P