FRA proposes delay in safety training requirements

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has proposed delaying by an additional year the dates for railroads to comply with certain safety training requirements in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, according to a recent notice in the Federal Register.

The proposed delay was issued in response to a petition for the federal agency to reconsider a final rule issued in May 2017. The rule requires railroads and railroad contractors to submit to the FRA a safety training program that includes minimum training requirements for all employee categories.

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) submitted the petition, according to the Dec. 20, 2017, notice in the Register.

Federal regulators had previously delayed the rule's implementation date. The current petition proposes to amend certain implementation dates by an additional year so that railroads have more time to prepare their safety training plans.

The FRA is accepting written comments on the proposed extension until Jan. 19.