[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 143 (Monday, July 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40152-40153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19948]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or 
Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From the 
Requirements of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 236

    Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and 
49 U.S.C. App. 26, the following railroads have petitioned the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance 
or modification of the signal system or relief from the requirements of 
49 CFR Part 236 as detailed below.

Block Signal Application (BS-AP)-No. 3480

Applicant: Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company, Mr. 
William G. Peterson, Director Signal Engineering 4515 Kansas Avenue, 
Kansas City, Kansas 66106

    Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company seeks approval of 
the proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control system, 
on the single main track, between North River, Missouri, milepost 8.6 
and Maxwell, Missouri, milepost 177.7, on the Illinois Division, 
Brookfield Subdivision, a distance of approximately 169 miles. The 
proposal includes the implementation of Track Warrant Control Rules as 
the method of operation, and conversion of the ``Bevier Control Point'' 
to a remote controlled interlocking.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that the severe 
reductions in train traffic can no longer justify the ongoing 
maintenance and operation of the signals.

BS-AP-No. 3481

Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. Phil Abaray, Chief 
Engineer--Signal/Quality, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1000, Omaha, Nebraska 
68179-1000

    Union Pacific Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed 
discontinuance and removal of the single direction automatic block 
signal (ABS) system, on the No. 1 single yard track, between Brooklyn, 
milepost 767.9 and East Portland, milepost 770.3, on the Brooklyn 
Subdivision, near Portland Oregon. The proposal includes removal of six 
automatic block signals and the installation of a new ``D'' signal at 
milepost 765.4.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is the installation of a 
bi-directional signal system, on the No. 2 main track between Brooklyn 
and East Portland, has eliminated the need for the single direction ABS 
system on the No. 1 yard track.

BS-AP-No. 3482

Applicant: CSX Transportation, Incorporated, Mr. R. M. Kadlick, Chief 
Engineer Train Control, 500 Water Street (S/C J-350), Jacksonville, 
Florida 32202

    CSX Transportation, Incorporated seeks approval of the proposed 
modification of the traffic control system, on the two main tracks, at 
Beech Street, milepost BA-280.5, near Grafton, West Virginia, on the 
Mountain Subdivision, Cumberland Business Unit, consisting of the 
conversion of the power-operated switch to hand operation, and removal 
of absolute controlled signals 29, 31, 33, 37, and 39.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to increase operating 
efficiency.

BS-AP-No. 3483

Applicants: 
    CSX Transportation, Incorporated, Mr. R. M. Kadlick, Chief Engineer 
Train Control, 500 Water Street (S/C J-350), Jacksonville, Florida 
32202
    Consolidated Rail Corporation, Mr. J. F. Noffsinger, Chief 
Engineer--C&S Assets, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
19101-1410

    CSX Transportation, Incorporated and Consolidated Rail Corporation, 
jointly seek approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the 
automatic block signal system and interlocking, on the two main tracks, 
between milepost BIA-251.9 and milepost BIA-257.6, near Hammond, 
Indiana, on the Lake Subdivision, Chicago Service Lane. The method of 
operation will be by a Direct Traffic Control Block System. The 
proposal includes conversion of the power-operated switches at Whiting 
Interlocking to hand operation; removal of all existing associated 
signals; and installation of two eastward inoperative approach signals 
to ``Hick.''
    The reason given for the proposed changes is to eliminate 
facilities no longer needed for present day operation.

Rules, Standards, and Instructions Application (RS&I-AP)-No. 1104

Applicants:
    CSX Transportation, Incorporated, Mr. R. M. Kadlick, Chief Engineer 
Train Control, 500 Water Street (S/C J-350), Jacksonville, Florida 
32202
    National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Mr. Ron Scolaro, Vice 
President Operations, 60 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 
20002

    CSX Transportation, Incorporated (CSXT) and the National Railroad 
Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK), jointly seek temporary relief from 
Section 236.566 of the Rules, Standards, and Instructions (49 CFR, Part 
236), during the period of September 1, through October 1, 1998, to the 
extent that the CSXT and AMTRAK, as operating railroads for Virginia 
Railway Express (VRE), be permitted to operate VRE Manassas trains, 
without cab signals, in automatic cab signal territory, between 
Alexandria and ``RO,'' Virginia,

[[Page 40153]]

approximately 6.1 miles, on CSXT's RF&P Subdivision, Baltimore Service 
Lane, associated with the conversion of the existing 60 Hertz cab 
signal system to the 100 Hertz operating cycle.
    The justification for relief is that elimination of the only 
operating, 60 Hertz system of its kind in the country, and the 
resulting 100 Hertz operation, will provide more conformity with 
prevailing cab signals. Also, the requested relief is to minimize the 
impact to VRE's service during this transition, and permit the securing 
of needed material and modification of the VRE equipment.
    Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an 
application shall set forth specifically the grounds upon which the 
protest is made, and contain a concise statement of the 8 interest of 
the Protestant in the proceeding. The original and two copies of the 
protest shall be filed with the Associate Administrator for Safety, 
FRA, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Mail Stop 25, Washington, D.C. 20590 
within 30 calendar days of the date of publication of this notice. 
Additionally, one copy of the protest shall be furnished to the 
applicant at the address listed above.
    FRA expects to be able to determine these matters without an oral 
hearing. However, if a specific request for an oral hearing is 
accompanied by a showing that the party is unable to adequately present 
his or her position by written statements, an application may be set 
for public hearing.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 20, 1998.
George A. Gavalla,
Acting Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. 98-19948 Filed 7-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P