[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 19984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9944]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Petition for Waivers of Compliance
In accordance with 49 CFR 211.9, 211.41 and 211.45, notice is
hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has
received a request for a waiver of compliance with certain requirements
of the Federal safety laws and regulations. The individual petition is
described below, including the party seeking relief, the regulatory
provisions involved, the nature of the relief being requested and the
petitioner's arguments in favor of relief.
Renfe Talgo of America, Incorporated
Addendum to Docket Numbers RSGM-94-2 and SA-94-1
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WDT) is the
lessee of the Renfe Talgo of America, Incorporated (RTOA) passenger
train currently in service in the Pacific Northwest High Speed Corridor
between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The Talgo train is
operating under the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) waivers
Docket Numbers RSGM-94-2 and SA-94-1. The waivers were conditionally
granted on March 25, 1994.
RTOA requested the waivers of compliance with certain provisions of
the Railroad Safety Glazing Standards (49 CFR Part 223) under Docket
Number RSGM-94-2 and the Railroad Safety Appliance Standards (49 CFR
Part 231), under Docket Number SA-94-1 and the (see 59 FR 9016,
February 24, 1994).
The RSGM-94-2 conditional waiver permits the operation of the Talgo
train in revenue service in the Pacific Northwest High Speed Rail
Corridor for the WDT operated by the National Railroad Passenger
Corporation (Amtrak). The waiver is from compliance with the Railroad
Glazing Standards (49 CFR 223.15(b)), which requires that all side
facing glazing on passenger cars must meet the FRA Type II testing
criteria. RTOA states that the side facing glazing of the TALGO train
may in fact meet the FRA requirements for FRA Type II, but it has not
been subjected to the test specified in the regulation. The windows in
the sides of the cars are double glazed with tempered safety glass.
Each layer is 6 mm. (.24 inches) thick with an air space in between the
two layers.
The SA-94-1 conditional waiver from compliance of the Railroad
Safety Appliance Standards (49 CFR 231.14) and Sections 2 and 4 of the
Safety Appliance Act (45 U.S.C. Sections 2 and 4), which requires that
each passenger car must be equipped with side handholds, end handholds
and uncoupling levers. The passenger cars have side handholds at the
doors for the assistance of passengers, but there are no side handholds
or end handholds which the rules contemplate for use in switching
operations or coupling and uncoupling. RTOA states that the 12 cars in
the TALGO train constitute a single unit, in that the cars will not be
uncoupled from one another, except at specified maintenance facilities.
The individual cars are joined by swivel type traction couplers which
will not uncouple in normal operations and because of this
configuration there is no need for uncoupling levers. Standard AAR Type
E couplers will be installed at the ends of the front and rear service
cars.
WDT has requested a change in the waiver in order to place the
Talgo train in temporary revenue service between Seattle and Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada; and removing it from revenue service between
Seattle and Portland.
Interested parties are invited to participate in this proceeding by
submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate
scheduling a public hearing in connection with this proceeding.
However, if an opportunity for oral presentation before representatives
of the FRA is requested before May 1, 1995, FRA will provide such
opportunity at a public hearing. If held, this public hearing will take
place in Seattle, Washington, on May 16, 1995. Information as to
whether a hearing will be held, and specific location, may be obtained
after May 1, 1995, by contacting the FRA Docket Clerk at 202-366-2257
or by writing the Docket Clerk at the Federal Railroad Administration,
Office of Chief Counsel, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the
appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number SA-94-1)
and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office of
Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, Nassif Building, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Communications received
before May 26, 1995, 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 a.m.-5
p.m.) in Room 8201, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590.
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 17, 1995.
Phil Olekszyk,
Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program
Implementation.
[FR Doc. 95-9944 Filed 4-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P