Railroad Safety Board
The Railroad Safety Board (Board) is the administrative body within FRA with the authority to decide waiver petitions, requests to modify or discontinue a railroad signal system (often referred to as “block signal applications”), and certain requests for special approval. Any person, including railroads and other parties subject to FRA’s requirements, may petition FRA for relief from an FRA regulation, order, or standard.
FRA publishes notices in the Federal Register of incoming requests for waivers and certain other petitions to the Board. These notices provide the assigned public docket number and establish a public comment period on those requests.
FRA investigates each incoming request, often including field inspections from FRA inspectors. After the request is investigated and evaluated by subject matter experts, the Board periodically meets to consider the results of those investigations and analyses and determine whether granting each request would meet the statutory standard of “in the public interest and consistent with railroad safety” (49 U.S.C. 20103(d)). Documents related to each request, including the Board’s resulting decision letter, can be found using the relevant public docket number online at Regulations.gov, the public docket system for participating federal government agencies.
Information Related to the Board and How to Submit Petitions to the Board
For specific procedures related to submitting petitions, use the links below from Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These links go to an external site and will open in a new tab.
- General waiver procedures:
- Petitions for emergency waiver of safety rules:
- Petitions for special approval for restricted/overage cars:
- Applications for discontinuance or a material modification of a signal system:
- Requesting confidential treatment of information submitted with a request:
- Further explanation and best practices about submitting requests to the Board:
- Order describing the composition and authority of the Board:
- Guidance on jurisdiction and waiver process for “shared use” operations:
- Review the guidance and links listed above.
- Format the request as a PDF, if possible.
- Submit the request by email to FRAWaivers@dot.gov. An auto-reply email that the request was received in the waiver inbox will be sent back to you.
- For assistance in filing a request, reach out to your Safety Management Team.
- Requests will be posted in a public docket on Regulations.gov. (If the request contains confidential information, the petitioner must follow 49 CFR § 209.11).
Approved Waivers (as of December 10, 2024)
Below, organized by railroad, is a list of approved waivers in effect for each Class I railroad and Amtrak. Expand each dropdown section for additional information, including links to the public docket.
Docket Number | Current Expiration Date |
Regulatory Cite (49 CFR Part) |
Subject |
---|---|---|---|
N/A |
231 238 |
Location of safety appliances on equipment |
|
7/6/2025 |
238 |
Fire safety - relief for certain locomotive components |
|
9/20/2029 |
240 242 |
Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) |
|
9/20/2029 |
240 242 |
C3RS |
|
N/A |
238 |
Tier III NEC equipment |
|
N/A |
238 |
Exterior side doors |
|
12/1/2028 |
240 242 |
C3RS |
Docket Number | Current Expiration Date |
Regulatory Cite (49 CFR Part) |
Subject |
---|---|---|---|
4/19/2027 |
232 |
Increased mileage for extended haul trains |
|
7/22/2025 |
236 |
Signal locking tests |
|
9/29/2028 |
215 232 |
Cross border operations |
|
5/31/2025 |
213 |
Allows use of 3/4 crossties on certain segments of continuous welded rail track |
|
11/26/2029 |
229 232 |
Extends air flow method indicator calibration intervals for certain electronic braking systems |
|
N/A |
N/A* |
Location of safety appliances on specialized equipment |
|
5/27/2025 |
232 |
Use of wheel temperature detectors to determine brake health on certain trains |
|
12/10/2029 |
225 |
Monthly posting of injury/illness log |
|
2/27/2025 |
232 |
In-train wheelset replacement |
|
9/11/2025 |
215 |
Pre-departure inspection |
|
1/29/2026 |
213 |
Track Geometry Measurement Systems |
*Indicates relief is from applicable statute, not regulatory provision in the CFR.
Docket Number | Current Expiration Date |
Regulatory Cite (49 CFR Part) |
Subject |
---|---|---|---|
9/20/2025 |
241 |
Cross border dispatching |
|
8/28/2028 |
N/A* |
Hours of service |
|
12/3/2026 |
236 |
Signal locking tests |
|
5/1/2029 |
220 |
Railroad-supplied personal electronic devies |
|
6/13/2027 |
232 |
In train wheelset replacement |
|
5/2/2028 |
232 |
Virtual, periodic refresher training |
*Indicates relief is from applicable statute, not regulatory provision in the CFR.
Docket Number | Current Expiration Date |
Regulatory Cite (49 CFR Part) |
Subject |
---|---|---|---|
9/20/2025 |
241 |
Cross border dispatching |
|
12/9/2027 |
215 232 |
Cross border operations |
|
7/31/2026 |
236 |
Signal locking tests |
|
4/21/2025 |
232 |
Virtual, periodic refresher training |
Docket Number | Current Expiration Date |
Regulatory Cite (49 CFR Part) |
Subject |
---|---|---|---|
N/A |
236 |
Locomotive signaling |
|
12/3/2026 |
236 |
Signal locking tests |
|
4/21/2025 |
232 |
Virtual, periodic refresher training |
|
10/9/2025 |
225 |
Monthly posting of injury/illness log |
Docket Number | Current Expiration Date |
Regulatory Cite (49 CFR Part) |
Subject |
---|---|---|---|
8/4/2028 |
231 |
Uncoupling levers on certain trains used to deliver continuous welded rail to roadway workers |
|
10/25/2026 |
236 |
Signal locking tests |
|
4/27/2025 |
225 |
Monthly posting of injury/illness log |
|
2/27/2025 |
231 |
Location of hand brakes on certain flat cars used in maintenance-of-way service |
|
5/12/2025 |
232 |
In-train wheelset replacement |
Docket Number | Current Expiration Date |
Regulatory Cite (49 CFR Part) |
Subject |
---|---|---|---|
4/30/2025 |
215 232 |
Cross border operations |
|
5/12/2028 |
215 232 |
Cross border operations |
|
4/6/2026 |
229 232 |
Safety valves on locomotive main reservoirs |
|
7/25/2028 |
215 232 |
Cross border operations |
|
5/12/2028 |
215 232 |
Cross border operations |
|
4/30/2025 |
215 232 |
Cross border operations |
|
8/30/2029 |
232 |
In-train wheelset replacement |
|
5/12/2028 |
215 232 |
Cross border operations |
|
N/A |
236 |
Control circuits for signals |
|
12/3/2026 |
236 |
Signal locking tests |