General / Publications and Regulations

Q-1. Where can I find Federal, safety-related, railroad publications?

A. For reports, studies, and other rail-related documents, please click publications.

Q-2. Where can I obtain information on the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)?

A. For the Code of Federal Regulations, please click CFR.

For additional regulatory information, please click GPO , the website for the Government Printing Office.

General / Railroad Research

Q-1.   I am interested in doing research on railroad transportation issues. Where do I start?

A. For FRA research and development, please click R&D .

For transportation science and technology, please click http://scitech.dot.gov/ , which provides a location where information on transportation science and technology can be exchanged and shared.

For the National Transportation library, please click http://www.bts.gov/ , which is a repository of materials from public and private organizations around the country. The library is intended to facilitate the exchange of information related to transportation.

Q-2.   I am doing research on the history of locomotives and railroads. Where can I find information on this subject?

A. The following are places you may want to look for historical railroad information:

National Railway Historical Society Library
100 North 17th Street, 12th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone (215) 557-6606
www.nrhs.com

The California State Railroad Museum
1111 Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 323-8073
http://www.csrmf.org/

General / Safety Teaching Aids

Q-1. Where can I obtain materials for teaching railroad safety?

A. One place to find teaching-related materials is FRA’s safety website at http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety . Another source for railroad safety material is on the Operation Lifesaver website at http://www.oli.org .

Q-2. I am an educator who would like to have someone speak to my students about railroad safety. Whom do I need to contact to set this up?

A. You should contact your local Operation Lifesaver State representative to set up a presentation. For a complete list of representatives, view the Operation Lifesaverwebsite at http://www.oli.org/contact .

General / Waivers

Q-1. Where can I send any comments or concerns on waivers currently being considered?

A. You may send your comments or concerns to DOT Docket Management Facility, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20590. Please include the docket number with your letter.

Q-2. What if I do not know the docket number? How can I find this information?

A . This information, as well as all other information for current and prior waivers, is available on the DMS webpage at http://dms.dot.gov/ .

General / Speeds & Grades

Q-1. Where can I find information on the maximally allowed day and night speed of trains in my area?

A. FRA regulations affect train speeds through the provisions of its track standards and rules governing the installation of signal systems. Both sets of regulations are contained in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations,which can be accessed by clicking regulations. FRA’s signal rules provide that, in the absence of a signal system, passenger trains are restricted to 59 mph and freight trains to 49 mph. If a basic signal system is in place, the speed of trains may be increased to 79 mph.

FRA’s signal rules are complemented by the track regulations, which specify a variety of physical conditions that must exist for certain ranges of train speeds. Nine classes of track are defined by FRA, and each has a maximally permissible speed for train operations; class I being the lowest speed with a maximum speed of 10, and class 9 the highest with a maximum speed of 200. The managers of individual railroads select the speeds at which it is desired to operate trains. Having done this, the railroad then becomes obligated to ensure that the track meets the conditions set by FRA for such operating speeds. Federal courts have ruled repeatedly that, where the track complies with an FRA track class, trains may operate within the speed regime allowed by that class.

Q-2. What is the maximum grade hill a railcar can climb?

A. Railroad grades are more or less determined by available locomotive horsepower and traction efforts required to pull a specified number of railroad cars up a grade, as well as the braking effort required to control the movement when going down the grade.

Railroad grades are expressed in terms of the rise or fall of elevation over distance. For instance, a 1 percent grade would be a one-foot rise or fall of elevation over a distance of 100 feet.

General / Miscellaneous

Q-1. The only access we have to our property is an old wooden bridge that crosses over two railroad tracks. The bridge is deteriorating. Who is responsible for repairing and maintaining this bridge?

A. The local or State highway agency is usually responsible for the safety and integrity of bridges that carry its highways, regardless of the division of maintenance cost. In most States, the public utility commission (PUC) or the State department of transportation have the authority to determine the manner in which public highways cross railroads, including apportionment of the maintenance and authorization to open and close crossings at grade.

The responsibility for repair or replacement of the bridge depends on the arrangement between the highway agency and the railroad, under the general authority of any State commission or agency such as a PUC. If property owners or residents have a problem with the bridge capacity, they should contact the local highway authority (city, county, etc.). The highway agency would then deal, as necessary, with the railroad for resolution.

Q-2. How does a private railroad repair shop become certified by the FRA?

A. The FRA does not certify private car/locomotive repair facilities. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is responsible for private repair shop certification. You can contact AAR at:

Association of American Railroads
Technical Services Division
American Railroads Building
50 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 639-2100

Q-3. How do I become a locomotive engineer?

A. No schools specifically train locomotive engineers. Most engineers are hired by the railroad as crewmembers or other similar positions, and are then promoted from within. The railroads are responsible for training engineers according to FRA guidelines. The FRA does not certify engineers.

Q-4. To whom do I address a formal complaint?

A. If you wish to file a formal complaint, you should send your letter to:

Mr. Joseph Boardman
Administrator
Federal Railroad Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Please be sure to include in your letter the location, time, violator, and type of violation committed.