30280 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 116 / Friday, June 14, 1996 / Notices

Issued on: June 6, 1996.

Robert Arnold,

District Engineer, Albany.

[FR Doc. 96–15086 Filed 6–13–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–22–M

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number H–95–1]

Addendum to a Test Program for a

Conditional Waiver; National Railroad

Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)

In accordance with 49 CFR Part 211,

notice is hereby given that Amtrak has

requested an addendum to the

previously granted temporary waiver of

compliance with specific requirements

of certain parts of Title 49 of the Code

of Federal Regulations in order to

conduct a limited demonstration of a

passenger trainset, the IC3 ‘‘Flexiliner’’.

Amtrak was granted conditional

waivers from sections of Railroad Safety

Appliance Standards (49 CFR Part 231),

Railroad Safety Glazing Standards (49

CFR Part 223) and Railroad Track Safety

Standards (49 CFR Part 213) (see FR

28011, May 26, 1995, for complete

description). The waivers permit

Amtrak, and a number of potential

sponsors, including state departments of

transportation and commuter agencies,

to demonstrate and operate in revenue

service the Flexiliner trainset, a threecar, articulated, diesel hydraulic,

multiple unit trainset built by ABA

Scandia A/S for the Danish State

Railway (DSB).

The conditional waiver pertained to

one 3-unit IC3 Flexiliner trainset, and

since that time a second trainset has

been added. Amtrak says this is

necessary because of the limited amount

of seating available on one trainset, and

the expected passenger loads on the

proposed routes require more seating.

Amtrak requested relief from the

Railroad Locomotive Safety Standard,

49 CFR 229.131, Sanders, which

requires that each locomotive shall be

equipped with operable sanders that

deposit sand on each rail in front of the

first powered operated wheel set in the

direction of movement. The IC3

Flexiliner trainsets are not equipped

with sanders. They are equipped with

magnetic track brakes which are

activated when the train brakes are

applied in emergency. Air pressure

forces the brakes to the rail and battery

voltage causes a strong magnetic field to

develop a significant retardation force.

Magnetic track brakes are common in

Europe and were used in this country

on the X2000 and ICE trainsets during

their recent demonstration trials.

Due to the impending arrival of the

IC3 Flexiliner trainsets at the Port of

Baltimore, Maryland, FRA has, on a

temporary basis, conditionally waived

compliance with the relevant portions

of the rail safety regulations. FRA has,

however, reserved the right to withdraw

such approval upon receipt by FRA of

public comment raising substantial

issues of safety.

Interested parties are invited to

participate in this proceeding by

submitting written views, data, or

comments. FRA does not anticipate

scheduling a public hearing in

connection with this proceeding 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–95–1) and

must be submitted in triplicate to the

Docket Clerk, Office of Chief Counsel,

Federal Railroad Administration, Nassif

Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20590.

Communications received within 30

days of the date of publication of this

notice will be considered 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 a.m.–5 p.m.) in Room

8201, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh

Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on June 10,

1996.

Phil Olekszyk,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety

Compliance and Program Implementation.

[FR Doc. 96–15116 Filed 6–13–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

Notice of Application for Approval of

Discontinuance or Modification of a

Railroad Signal System or Relief from

the Requirements of Title 49 CFR Part

236

Pursuant to Title 49 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 Title 49

CFR Part 236 as detailed below.

Block Signal Application (BS–AP)–No.

3396

Applicant: Soo Line Railroad

Company, Mr. J. C. Thomas, S&C

District Manager, 105 South 5th Street,

Box 530, Minneapolis, Minnesota

55440.

The Soo Line Railroad Company seeks

approval of the proposed

discontinuance and removal of the

Conley frog locks, on the two main track

Kinnickinnic River movable bridge, at

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gateway

Division, C&M Subdivision.

The reason given for the proposed

changes is to reduce maintenance costs

associated with maintaining the frog

locks, which are not required to be in

compliance with applicable rule Part

236.312.

BS–AP–No. 3397

Applicant: Soo Line Railroad

Company, Mr. J. C. Thomas, S&C

District Manager, 105 South 5th Street,

Box 530, Minneapolis, Minnesota

55440.

The Soo Line Railroad Company seeks

approval of the proposed

discontinuance and removal of the

Conley frog locks, on the two main track

Menomonee River movable bridge, at

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gateway

Division, C&M Subdivision.

The reason given for the proposed

changes is to reduce maintenance costs

associated with maintaining the frog

locks, which are not required to be in

compliance with applicable rule Part

236.312.

BS–AP–No. 3398

Applicant: Wisconsin Central

Limited, Mr. Glenn J. Kerbs, Vice

President Engineering, P.O. Box 5062,

Rosemont, Illinois 60017–5062.

The Wisconsin Central Limited (WC)

seeks approval of the proposed

discontinuance and removal of the

interlocking plant, at Menasha,

Wisconsin, milepost MA 1.20,

Manitowoc Subdivision, where a single

main track of the WC crosses at grade

a single yard track of the WC. The

proposal includes installation of a swing

gate with a stop sign, in the southwest

quadrant, normally lined to foul the

yard track.

The reason given for the proposed

changes is that both tracks are owned by

the WC, and the only through train

movements are on the single main track

at timetable speed of 10 mph.

BS–AP–No. 3399

Applicants:

National Railroad Passenger

Corporation, Ms. Alison Conway-