Federal Register #2026-17996

Safety Advisory 2026-01 on Restricted Speed Compliance for Railroads

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under the Department of Transportation, has issued Safety Advisory 2026-01 to address compliance with restricted speed regulations in railroad operations. - Government Buyer: - Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation - Purpose: - Reminds railroads and employees of the importance of adhering to Federal regulations and railroad operating rules for restricted speed - Key Details: - Summarizes seven recent train accidents caused by failures to operate at restricted speed - Provides recommendations for railroads to improve employee compliance, with emphasis on operations in positive train control (PTC) Restricted Mode - Outlines requirements for railroads to review accident circumstances, assess training effectiveness, reinforce PTC as a safety overlay, and increase operational testing - Stresses that restricted speed is a dynamic requirement based on conditions, not a fixed speed limit - Highlights the need for continuous vigilance, proper training, and active communication among crew members - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are mentioned - Products/Services Requested: - No products or services are being procured; this is an advisory notice - Unique Requirements: - Focus on dynamic speed adjustment, robust training, and operational testing to prevent accidents - Emphasis on compliance in PTC Restricted Mode

Description

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued Safety Advisory 2026-01 to remind railroads and their employees about the importance of complying with Federal regulations and railroad operating rules regarding restricted speed. The advisory summarizes seven recent train accidents caused by failure to operate at restricted speed and provides recommendations to ensure employee compliance, especially in positive train control (PTC) Restricted Mode operations. It emphasizes that restricted speed requires trains to be able to stop within one-half the range of vision, which is a dynamic requirement based on conditions, not just a fixed speed limit. The advisory also highlights concerns about overreliance on PTC enforcement and stresses the need for continuous vigilance and proper training.

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