WASHINGTON - The Federal Railroad Administration today announced a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) intended to improve the integrity of passenger train exterior side door safety systems. The proposed rule would create new safety standards that would help decrease accidents and improve the safe operation and use of passenger train exterior side doors. Some of the proposed requirements include: equipping new passenger cars that have powered side doors with an obstruction detection system and a bypass feature that allows a train engineer to manually override the door safety system;  connecting new passenger cars that have either manual or powered exterior side doors to a door summary circuit that informs the controlling cab of the status of the doors to prohibit the train from developing tractive power if any of the exterior side doors are open; and safety briefings for train crews to identify crewmember responsibilities as they relate to the safe operation of the exterior side doors.  The proposed rule is based on recommendations developed by the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee’s General Passenger Safety Task Force, and includes new requirements for both powered and manual exterior side doors and door safety systems on passenger trains. In addition, the rule proposes to incorporate American Public Transportation Association standards. Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the proposed rule by May 27, 2014. Contact: Kevin Thompson (202) 493-6024.