Rail Groups Push to Extend Track Safety Waiver Deal
Published Date: 3/4/2026
Notice
Summary
The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, Lackawanna County, and Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad Company want to keep their special permission to skip some railroad safety rules for their shared tracks. They asked the Federal Railroad Administration to extend this waiver, and the public can share their thoughts by April 3, 2026. This helps these groups keep things running smoothly without extra costs or delays while staying safe.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Request to Extend Safety Waiver
The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, Lackawanna County, and Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad Company petitioned FRA (Docket FRA-2000-7275) on February 4, 2026 to extend relief from specific Federal railroad safety regulations—including 49 CFR Sec. 229.129, parts 221, 223, 231, 238, 239, and 240—for shared-use trackage involving the Lackawanna County Historical Trolley Excursion. The petition says the trolley is a "living history" exhibit and uses temporal separation that guarantees exclusive use of the shared trackage during excursions.
Public Comments Will Be Posted Publicly
Comments on this petition must be received by April 3, 2026 and will be posted without change to regulations.gov; that posting includes any personal information commenters provide. Anyone who submits a written comment should expect their submission to be publicly searchable by name on the docket.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-11515 — Notice of Petition for Waiver of Compliance
The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) wants to renew a special permission to skip some brake tests on their transfer trains because their blast furnace is firing back up in 2026. This means trains will start running again, and they need the waiver to keep things moving smoothly without extra brake checks. The public can share their thoughts by August 10, 2026, before the decision is made.
2026-11509 — Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
NJ Transit wants to keep a special break from some railroad safety rules for its River Line train that runs between Camden and Trenton, NJ. This extension helps them run and maintain their trains more smoothly without extra hassle. If you have thoughts, make sure to share them by August 10, 2026!
2026-11516 — Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
St. Mary's Railway West wants to keep its special safety break that lets train workers report close calls without fear of punishment. This helps everyone stay safer by encouraging honest sharing of near-misses. The public can share their thoughts on this by August 10, 2026, but no money changes are involved.
2026-11276 — Long Island Rail Road's Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control System
The Long Island Rail Road wants to make some changes to its safety system that helps prevent train crashes, called Positive Train Control (PTC). They asked the government for approval on May 21, 2026, and now the public can share their thoughts until June 25, 2026. These updates aim to keep trains safer without causing delays or extra costs for riders.
2026-10308 — Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
Amtrak asked the Federal Railroad Administration to extend a break from some safety rules about train brakes and crew training. This affects passenger trains and gives Amtrak more time to meet certain safety standards without penalties. People have until July 21, 2026, to share their thoughts on this extension, which helps keep trains running smoothly while safety updates continue.
2026-10307 — Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
The Housatonic Railroad Company asked for more time to keep a special rule that lets their train workers work 6 days in a row before getting 24 hours off, instead of the usual 48 hours. This change helps the railroad run smoother and keeps workers less tired. People can share their thoughts on this by July 21, 2026.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-04271 — Notice of Petition for Waiver of Compliance
Norfolk Southern Railway wants a special pass to run their historic Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive without the usual cab signal equipment because it’s just not possible to add it without messing up the engine. They’re asking the government to let them do this for their upcoming Heritage Excursion Tour. People have until April 3, 2026, to share their thoughts, and this could speed up a fun, rare train trip without extra costs.
Next: 2026-04273 — Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System
Amtrak wants to change its railroad signals in New York by removing old automatic signals and adding new track sections and interlockings to boost train capacity. This means some signals will go away, and new ones will pop up to help trains run smoother and faster. If you have thoughts, you’ve got until April 3, 2026, to share them with the Federal Railroad Administration.