[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-28490] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: November 18, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [FRA General Docket No. H-94-6] Test Program and Public Hearing Involving Remotely Controlled Locomotives AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of test program and public hearing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: FRA is planning to conduct a test program of rail operations involving use of remotely controlled locomotives to evaluate the safety of this new technology in which a person can operate a locomotive by means of a radio remote-control device while not physically within the confines of a locomotive cab. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Chief of Motive Power and Equipment Division, Office of Safety (RRS-14), Federal Railroad Administration, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 202-366-4094). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 49 CFR 211.51, FRA will conduct a nation-wide test of rail operations involving remotely controlled locomotives (operations in which a person located outside a locomotive cab operates a locomotive by means of a radio remote-control device). The purpose of the test is to determine under what conditions locomotives can be operated from outside the cab of a locomotive by means of one of several different types of remote-control devices, with the level of safety required by Sec. 2 of the Locomotive Inspection Act ( 45 U.S.C. Sec. 23) and Sec. 229.7 of the Locomotive Safety Standards (49 CFR 229.7), which incorporates that statutory provision. Section 2 of the Locomotive Inspection Act states that it is Unlawful for any railroad to use or permit to be used on its line any locomotive unless said locomotive, its boiler, tender, and all parts and appurtenances thereof are in proper condition and safe to operate in the service to which they are put. FRA considers a remote-control device used to operate a locomotive to be a ``part or appurtenance'' within the meaning of the Locomotive Inspection Act. In addition to raising overall safety concerns, remote-control operations raise issues of possible technical noncompliance with certain Federal railroad safety standards inasmuch as the technology in question was not in use when the regulations were issued. The Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Company (W&LE) has submitted a petition to FRA requesting waivers of certain provisions of the Federal rail safety regulations in order to use remote-control devices in rail operations. FRA Docket Numbers LI-92-6 and RSOP-92-1, 59 FR 4454 (January 14, 1993). In addition to reviewing the various regulations from which W&LE requested relief, FRA reviewed W&LE's remote-control operations in light of compliance with Sec. 2 of the Locomotive Inspection Act (45 U.S.C. Sec. 23) and Sec. 229.7 of the Locomotive Safety Standards (49 CFR 229.7), which incorporates that statutory provision. Based on an extensive FRA field investigation of the W&LE's remote- control operations, W&LE's petition to FRA, testimony presented at a public hearing held on May 11, 1993, submissions to the public docket, as well as testing performed by the Volpe Transportation Systems Center under contract to FRA, FRA has conditionally granted the W&LE a temporary waiver. A copy of the approval letter is contained in Appendix A to this notice. While FRA has extensively reviewed the remote-control operations of the W&LE, other railroads throughout the country have begun to use remote-control technologies without similar FRA review. Because there are different remote-control transmitters and receivers made by a number of manufacturers and various railroads use those remote-control devices in various operational settings, conditions associated with W&LE's use of the devices may or may not be appropriate to other carriers. FRA needs to assure that continued use of this new technology does not create a safety risk to railroad employees or the public. FRA also does not want to hinder the development of new technologies which may be of benefit to the rail industry. Thus, FRA has chosen to permit continued use of remote control systems subject to appropriate safety conditions, while a two-year study of such use is underway. At the conclusion of the two-year period, FRA will be in a better position to evaluate the necessity and, if appropriate, content of permanent safety requirements for remote control use. All railroads using such remote-control systems will be permitted to continue using such systems only if they participate in the long- term test, so that FRA can evaluate remote control operations in light of the regulatory and statutory obligations imposed upon all railroads. Enrollment will be necessary for waiver of those provisions of 49 CFR Part 229 that present technical barriers to remote-control operation. FRA will conduct the test in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Appendix B. FRA seeks the comments of all parties interested in the test program prior to taking final action. All interested parties are invited to participate in this proceeding through written submissions or by participating in an informal hearing to discuss the test has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on January 11, 1995 in Room 2230, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. All written communications concerning this test program should reference ``FRA General Docket No. H-94-6'' and should be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office of Chief Counsel, Room 8201, FRA, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Comments received by January 18, 1995 will be considered before final action is taken. All comments received will be available for examination during regular working hours in Room 8201, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Issued in Washington, DC on November 9, 1994. Phil Olekszyk, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Comnpliance and Program Implementation. Appendix A November 9, 1994. Arthur E. Korkosz, Esq., Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, 4900 Society Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1304. Re: FRA Docket Nos. LI-92-6 and RSOP-92-1 Dear Mr. Korkosz: This is in response to the petition on behalf of the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Company (W&LE) for waivers of various Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rail safety regulations pertaining to W&LE's use of remotely controlled locomotives. FRA has reviewed in detail the operation of remotely controlled locomotives on the W&LE. That operation raises issues of technical noncompliance with various regulations as a result of the fact that the technology in question was not in use when the regulations were drafted.\1\ In addition, certain aspects of the operation raise safety concerns which are not addressed by existing regulations. Irrespective of the absence of regulatory provisions addressing specific locomotive features or appurtenances, railroads are required to use only locomotives and appurtenances that are safe to operate in the service to which they are put. Section 2 of the Locomotive Inspection Act, states in part: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\It has been argued that section 1 of the first Safety Appliance Act (45 U.S.C. Sec. 1) (hereinafter, ``Section 1'') prohibits use of a locomotive without an engineer physically present in the cab. Section 1 does not require the presence of an engineer on the locomotive. Section 1 does make it unlawful to run a train with an insufficient number of cars equipped with power or train brakes or to use a locomotive not equipped with an independent power brake and with appliances for operating the train brakes. This provision in Section 1, while referring to an ``engineer on the locomotive'' clearly does not require that an engineer be on the locomotive; the subjects of that provision, and the only actions made unlawful, are the operation of a train without an insufficient number of adequately equipped cars and the use of a locomotive unequipped with an independent power brake or appliances for operating the train brakes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- * * * it shall be unlawful for any railroad to use or permit to be used on its line any locomotive unless said locomotive, its boiler, tender, and all parts and appurtenances thereof are in proper condition and safe to operate in the service to which the same are put, that the same may be employed in the active service of such railroad without unnecessary peril to life or limb * * *. 45 U.S.C. Sec. 23. See also 49 CFR Sec. 229.7(a)(1). In making its determination regarding W&LE's petition, FRA has reviewed the petition, testimony presented at a public hearing held on May 11, 1993, and submissions to the public docket. FRA has also relied on its own staff of railroad safety experts as well as testing performed by the Volpe Transportation Systems Center under contract to FRA. Based on the above, FRA is dismissing FRA Docket No. RSOP-92-1 inasmuch as the operation of remotely controlled locomotives does not by itself violate 49 CFR Part 218, Subpart B (``Blue Signal Protection of Workers''). FRA is granting your request for a waiver of rail safety regulations under FRA Docket No. LI-92-6 for a period of two years subject to the conditions listed in the enclosure to this letter. FRA reserves the right to amend or revoke this approval based on non-compliance or based on new information pertaining to the safety of the system. During this two-year period FRA will also be conducting a test program, and together with its contractors, will be reviewing remote-control operations and technology on the W&LE and other railroads using similar technology. A notice of the test program is being published in the Federal Register. In that notice, FRA is encouraging all other railroads presently using remote-control locomotives to join with FRA in evaluating these systems. At the conclusion of the test period, FRA will be in a better position to evaluate the necessity and, if appropriate, content of permanent safety requirements for use of remote-control devices. Sincerely, Phil Olekszyk, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program Implementation, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company Remote-control Locomotives The waivers granted under FRA Docket No. LI-92-6 are subject to the conditions set forth in this document. FRA reserves the right to amend to revoke this approval based on non-compliance or based on new information pertaining to the safety of the system. A. Design Requirements 1. Each remote-control transmitter shall, at a minimum, have the capability of controlling the following locomotive functions: a. directional control; b. graduated throttle control; c. graduated independent locomotive brake application and release; d. graduated automatic train brake application and release; e. audible warning device control; f. audible bell control, if equipped; g. sand control; and h. headlight control. 2. Each remote-control transmitter shall control only the locomotive equipped with a remote-control receiver assigned to that transmitter. 3. Each locomotive equipped with a remote-control receiver shall respond only to the remote-control transmitter assigned to that receiver. 4. A remote-control transmitter having the capability to control more than one locomotive receiver shall have a lockable selector switch. 5. A service brake application by use of the remote-control transmitter shall cause a service application of the locomotive and train brakes. 6. When a remote-control transmitter's radio signal to the locomotive receiver is interrupted for a set period not to exceed five seconds, the remote-control system shall cause: a. application of the locomotive and train brakes, b. return of the diesel engine to idle, and c. termination of the main generator/alternator electrical output. 7. If a remote-control transmitter is equipped with an ``on'' and ``off'' switch, the switch, when moved from ``on'' to ``off'' position, shall result in: a. application of the locomotive and train brakes, b. return of the diesel engine to idle, and c. termination of the main generator/alternator electrical output. 8. Each locomotive equipped for remote-control operation shall audibly or visibly indicate to nearby personnel that the locomotive is under active remote-control and subject to movement. 9. Each remote-control transmitter shall be equipped with an active safety switch requiring manual resetting or its equivalent. It shall incorporate a timing sequence not to exceed 60 seconds. Failure to reset the switch within the timing sequence shall result in: a. application of the locomotive and train brakes, b. return of the diesel engine to idle, c. termination of the main generator/alternator electrical output, and d. sounding of the horn continuously or in short blasts. 10. Each remote-control transmitter shall have a two-second delay feature that when tilted 45 degrees in any direction shall result in: a. application of the locomotive and train brakes, b. return of the diesel engine to idle, c. termination of the main generator/alternator electrical output, and d. sounding of the horn continuously or in short blasts. 11. If the locomotive's main air reservoir pressure falls below 80 psi when the locomotive is in remote operation, the following shall automatically occur: a. application of the locomotive and train brakes, b. return of the diesel engine to idle, and c. termination of the main generator/alternator electrical output. 12. In remote operation, any attempt to apply the brakes or move the throttle on the locomotive control stand will automatically result in: a. application of the locomotive and train brakes, b. return of the diesel engine to idle, and c. termination of the main generator/alternator electrical output. 13. When the air valves and the electrical selector switch on the locomotive's remote control receiver equipment are moved from manual to remote or remote to manual modes, an emergency application of the locomotive and train brakes shall be initiated. 14. Measurements of electric and magnetic fields emitted by the remote-control transmitter shall conform to American National Standards Institute Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 300 Khz to 100 GHz'' (ANSI/ IEEE c95.1-1991). B. Training Requirements 1. A training program for initial and continuing education for operators of remote-control locomotives shall be established. Training programs established in conformity with 49 CFR Part 240 shall be modified to include appropriate training for operation of remote-control locomotives and systems. 2. Each person operating a remote-control locomotive (irrespective of whether that locomotive service requires that the operator be certified in accordance with 49 CFR Part 240) shall have successfully completed appropriate classroom and hands-on training regarding safety and operations of the remote-control locomotive and system. C. Standard Operating Procedures 1. W&LE shall establish written standard operating procedures tailored to its remote-control operation and shall include the following provisions: a. Each defective condition in the remote-control system shall be immediately reported to a designated railroad official. b. Each defective condition in a remote-control system shall be corrected before the locomotive is permitted to continue or be used in remote-control service. c. Repairs, modifications, or adjustments to any component of the remote-control system shall be made by a qualified person. d. W&LE shall immediately report by telephone to the FRA Regional Office or, after business hours, to the National Response Center whenever a derailment or personal injury occurs involving the remote-control system. W&LE shall maintain a record of all defective conditions and all accidents/incidents (irrespective of the reporting threshold under 49 CFR Part 225) involving the remote- control system. Such records shall be retained for at least 36 months. e. Upon going off duty, each operator shall place the remote- control locomotive in manual operation. f. When operating a locomotive by remote-control, the operator shall not: i. ride on a freight car; ii. ride on the locomotive's walkway or steps when the speed of the locomotive is in excess of 10 mph; or iii. stand or walk within the gage of the rail while in front of the lead car or locomotive. g. The maximum authorized speed of a remote-control locomotive being operated from outside the cab is 10 mph. h. When moving a group of cars for switching or placement purposes, the remote-control operator shall assume a position to observe the leading end of the movement. i. The operator shall operate only one remote-control locomotive consist from the remote-control transmitter, and shall not simultaneously operate any other locomotive consist. j. Prior to lining a switch or performing any duty that requires going on, under, or between cars, the operator shall fully apply the brakes on the locomotive and train. k. When operating a remote-control locomotive in the remote mode in road service, the operator shall at all times remain in the cab. l. A remotely controlled locomotive operated from outside the cab by a one-person crew shall not operate outside the confines of a geographical yard, an industry, an industrial park, or a lead into such facility when other railroad employees are not in close proximity to the train movement. m. A remote-control locomotive operated by a one-person crew shall be segregated from other locomotives or crews operating in the same yard or facility. n. Movements past any signal, through an interlocking, or over highway-rail crossings shall be made only when the remote-control operator, or another crewmember who can signal or communicate with the operator, has taken a position at the leading end of the movement. o. When operating a remote-control locomotive in the remote mode, the operator shall bring the locomotive to a full stop before the locomotive direction is changed. q. Passenger trains shall not be operated by use of a remote- control device. r. Each operator of a remote-control locomotive shall be equipped with an operative holstered hand-held radio equipped with a wired remote microphone by which the operator may communicate with another railroad employee. s. In the event that a train is stopped on a grade, a sufficient number of handbrakes must be set to hold the train. 2. W&LE shall adopt operating rules for remote-control locomotives that address: a. the maximum number of cars that can be handled at one time and b. how protection will be provided for maintenance-of-way and signal employees in locations where remote-control locomotives are operating. 3. W&LE shall submit its standard operating procedures to the FRA. 4. W&LE shall comply with the standard operating procedures listed above. D. Security 1. The remote-control transmitter shall be stored in a secure location when not in the operator's possession. 2. The issuance of a remote-control transmitter shall be the responsibility of a designated railroad official who shall keep accurate records of the assignment of each remote-control transmitter. 3. Ability to access the selector switch on a remote-control transmitter having the capability to control more than one locomotive receiver shall be limited to one designated railroad official during each shift. E. Inspections and Tests 1. Each remote-control system shall be included as part of the calendar day inspection required by 49 CFR 229.21. 2. Each operator upon going on duty, or before using the locomotive in the remote-control mode for the first time during the operator's shift, shall cut out the manual operation of the locomotive and set up and test the remote-control transmitter to determine that: a. the control stand gauges and the load meter function properly in accordance with the commands from the remote-control transmitter; b. the locomotive responds to the transmitter controls of reverser and throttle; d. the locomotive brakes function properly from the transmitter; e. the headlight, horn, and bell function properly from the transmitter; f. the transmitter tilt mechanism functions properly; g. the transmitter tilt nullifying switch when placed in the ``off'' position, applies the locomotive brake; and h. the active safety switch reset does not exceed 60 seconds. F. Notification of Use and Protection of Workers 1. Prior to leaving the locomotive cab to operate the locomotive from a position other than in or on the locomotive, the operator of the locomotive shall affix a clearly visible tag to the throttle or automatic brake value handle indicating that the locomotive is in remote-control operation. This tag shall be removed by the operator of the remote-control of the locomotive whenever the locomotive is no longer operated by remote-control. 2. Whenever a worker as described in 49 CFR Part 218, Subpart B, Blue Signal Protection of Workers, is required to work on, under, or between the locomotive and/or train in remote-control operation, the worker shall require the remote-control operator to remove the remote-control tag from the throttle and restore the locomotive to manual operation. The worker shall then attach a blue signal to the throttle before commencing work. 3. When the worker has completed work on the locomotive or train, the worker shall remove the blue signal and inform the remote-control operator that he is off the locomotive or train. The remote-control operator shall then comply with requirements of section F.1. above before commencing use of the locomotive in remote-control operations. Appendix B Test Program Railroads operating on the general railroad system of transportation using remote-control devices in which the lead locomotive is controlled from outside the cab by means of a radio transmitter are strongly encouraged to enroll in the test program: 1. Railroads participating in the test program shall inform the Associate Administrator for Safety, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. 2. Participating railroads agree to conform to the same conditions as those contained in Appendix A. 3. If a participating railroad is unable to conform to any of the conditions contained in Appendix A, it shall submit for FRA's review and acceptance alternative safety conditions. a. In the event the design of a remote-control system being used by the participating railroads does not permit conformity with the requirements contained in Appendix A, the railroad shall indicate (i) which design requirement is different and (ii) how an equivalent level of safety is achieved by the device being used by the railroad. b. In the event a participating railroad does not wish to comply with a condition contained in sections B through G of Appendix A), the railroad should specify the condition and indicate how an equivalent level of safety is achieved by the railroad's alternative condition. 4. Acceptance by FRA for participation in this test constitutes a waiver of applicable Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards (49 CFR Part 229) subject to compliance with the above conditions. [FR Doc. 94-28490 Filed 11-17-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-M