[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 135 (Wednesday, July 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 38226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18821]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Petition for Waiver of Compliance/Docket No. H-98-2

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) received from the National Railroad Passenger Corporation 
(Amtrak) a request for waiver of compliance with certain requirements 
of 49 CFR Part 213: TRACK SAFETY STANDARDS.
    The purpose of Amtrak's petition is to secure approval from FRA to 
conduct testing and demonstrations of the Talgo trainset at operating 
speeds up to 125 mph and four inches of cant deficiency on Amtrak's 
Northeast Corridor. Amtrak anticipates the testing will be completed 
within three days after commencement. Following the successful 
completion of the testing, Amtrak seeks to conduct three ``VIP'' 
demonstration trips between Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania.
    Amtrak and the State of Washington jointly purchased a total of 
three Talgo trainsets which are currently in production in Seattle, 
Washington. The Amtrak and Washington State contracts require Talgo to 
demonstrate lateral stability at speeds up to 125 mph before the cars 
can be accepted. Amtrak states that this testing can only be 
accomplished on the Northeast Corridor.
    In order to conduct the testing and demonstrations, Amtrak requests 
a waiver from 49 CFR 213.9, Classes of track, which currently limits 
the maximum train speed to 110 mph, and Section 213.57(b), Curves; 
Elevations and Speed Limitations, which currently permits a maximum of 
three inches to be used as the underbalance term (cant deficiency) in 
the determination of the maximum speed on a curve based on 
superelevation and degree of curvature.
    Amtrak states that Talgo trainsets routinely operate at up to 125 
mph and seven inches of cant deficiency in Spain. In addition, the 
Talgo was tested in 1997 at up to eight inches of cant deficiency in 
the Pacific Northwest.
    Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings 
by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate 
scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since 
the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party 
desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA, in 
writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for 
their request.
    All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the 
appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number H-98-2) 
and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office of 
Chief Counsel, FRA, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Mail 
Stop 10, Washington, D.C. 20590. Communications received within 45 days 
of the date of this notice will be considered by FRA before final 
action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered 
as far as practicable. All written communications concerning these 
proceedings are available for examination during regular business hours 
(9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) at FRA's temporary docket room located at 1120 
Vermont Avenue, N.W., Room 7051, Washington, D.C. 20005.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on July 6, 1998.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 98-18821 Filed 7-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P