G/TBT/N/USA/480/Add.1  
 
21 December 2020  
(20-9234) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication , dated  21 December 2020 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United States of America . 
 
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Title: Positive Train Control Systems; Proposed Rule  
 
Reason for Addendum:  
[  ] Comment period changed - date:   
[  ] Notified measure adopted - date:  
[  ] Notified measure published - date:  
[  ] Notified measure enters into force - date:  
[  ] Text of final measure available from1:  
[  ] Notified measure withdrawn or revoked - date:  
Relevant symbol if measure re -notified:   
[  ] Content or scope of notified measure changed  
New deadline for comments (if applicable):   
[  ] Interpretive guidance issued and text available from1:  
[X] Other: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-12-18/html/2020 -27097.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-12-18/pdf/2020 -27097.pdf  
https://members.wto .org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/USA/20_7840_00_e.pdf  
 
Description:  TITLE: Positive Train Control Systems  
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT)  
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)  
SUMMARY: FRA is proposing to revise its regulations governing changes to positive train control 
(PTC) systems and reporting on PTC system functioning. First, recognizing that the railroad industry 
intends to enhance further FRA -certified PTC systems to con tinue improving rail safety and PTC 
technology's reliability and operability, FRA proposes to modify the process by which a host railroad 
must submit a request for amendment (RFA) to FRA before making certain changes to its PTC Safety 
Plan (PTCSP) and FRA -certified PTC system. Second, to enable more effective FRA oversight, FRA 
proposes to: Expand an existing reporting requirement by increasing the frequency from annual to 
biannual; broaden the reporting requirement to encompass positive performance -related  
information, not just failure -related information; and require host railroads to utilize a new, 
standardized Biannual Report of PTC System Performance (Form FRA F 6180.152). Overall, the 
 
1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a pdf attachment, or other 
information on where the text of the final measure and/or interpretive guidance can be obtained.  G/TBT/N/USA/480/Add.1  
 
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  proposed amendments would benefit the railroad industry, the public,  and FRA, by reducing 
unnecessary costs, facilitating innovation, and improving FRA's ability to oversee PTC system 
performance and reliability, while not negatively affecting rail safety.  
DATES: Written comments must be received by 16 February 2021. FRA b elieves a 60 -day comment 
period is appropriate to allow the public to comment on this proposed rule. FRA will consider 
comments received after that date to the extent practicable.  
This notice of proposed rulemaking is identified by Docket Number FRA -2019-0075. The Docket 
Folder is available on Regulations.gov at  https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FRA -2019-0075 
and provides access to primary documents as well as comments received. Documents  are also 
accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching the Docket Number. WTO Members and their 
stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point . Comm ents received by 
the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their stakeholders will be shared with the 
regulator and will also be submitted to the Docket  on Regulations.gov if received within the comment 
period.  
The notice of proposed rulemaking notified as G/TBT/N/USA/480  is identifie d by Docket Number 
FRA-2008-0132. The Docket Folder is available on Regulations.gov at 
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FRA -2008-0132 and provides access to primary document s 
as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching 
the Docket Number.  
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