Hello CRC Members:

As noted at the summer board meeting in San Francisco, the silence on the FRA regulatory front was quickly overwhelmed by the 57 rulemakings that were published on July 1, 2025. While the sheer number of rules may seem intimidating, the vast majority are more administrative than substantive, and mostly focused on “deregulatory efforts,” as a whole. We’ll attempt to break it down for you in this update, but please feel free to use this filtered search on the Federal Register (Federal Register :: Document Search) or look up the dockets, themselves, on www.regulations.gov. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to CRC if you have questions.

Of the 57 rulemakings published on July 1st, 36 are direct final rulemakings, meaning these are final rules that are published without the more traditional public engagement process such as rulemakings that utilize a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), or Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). This is common for rules that primarily address administrative issues (e.g., updating addresses, etc.) or non-substantive updates (e.g., updated citations for documents incorporated by reference). Of the 36 direct final rules, 34 are largely administrative updates to various FRA sections in 49 CFR Parts 200-299. These include revisions to address things such as updating cited websites, FRA staff positions and titles, and certain definitions. Additionally, a number of these rules replace references to specific civil penalty amounts with general references to the minimum civil penalty amounts, and the addition of language referring to 49 CFR part 209, appendix A.

Two of these final rules are slightly more interesting, however, as the revisions involved are a bit more notable. Information on these rules can be found, below:

Modernizing Dispatcher's Record of Train Movements
(49 CRF Part 228; Docket #FRA-2025-0125)

This rule modifies § 228.17 to remove the reference to “telegraph” technology, and more substantively, the requirement to record weather conditions at 6-hour intervals.

Repealing a Redundant Reporting Requirement
(49 CRF Part 236; Docket #FRA-2025-0104)

FRA is removing the biannual reporting requirement for PTC systems in § 236.1029(h), as statutory reporting requirements on a quarterly basis have been maintained under Form FRA F 6180.152 until at least early 2027.

Likely of more interest is the 21 Notice of Proposed Rulemakings (NPRM) that were also published on the same day. Of these, three are largely administrative in nature, three primarily impact freight railroads (although it’s possible these might impact some members who maintain dedicated MOW fleets), and six are largely negligible (e.g., removing retiring certain forms, allowing for electronic submissions, etc. The remaining nine, however, may have more direct impacts on most members. We’ve provided a brief synopsis below, but encourage you to read the full NPRM if it’s of interest:

Repealing Outdated Railroad Workplace Safety Requirements
and Making Other Improvements
(49 CRF Part 214; Docket #FRA-2025-0083)

This rulemaking proposes to eliminate a number of requirements and references that have become obsolete, such as the removal of “definite train location” as a means of roadway worker protection and its references (prohibited since 2017). Additionally, the rule would add a new special approval process to allow for a more streamlined use of alternative approaches to bridge worker safety.

Regulatory Relief To Allow Speeds Up to 45 MPH
for Non-Traversable Curbs
(49 CRF Part 222; Docket #FRA-2025-0120)

FRA is proposing to revise the definition of “non-traversable curb” to allow for use in locations with highway speeds up to 45-mph (currently 40-mph), consistent with FRA’s relief provided in a number of waivers.

Regulatory Relief From Locomotive Horn Sounding Pattern at
Public Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
(49 CRF Part 222; Docket #FRA-2025-0121)

The proposed revisions to this rule would provide additional discretion to an engineer under Part 222 (the “horn rule”) to deviate the horn sounding pattern and durations identified in § 222.21(a), for trains or locomotives that have stopped in close proximity of a highway-rail grade crossing under § 222.21(d).

Expanding Certain Locomotive Wheel Set Diameter Variations
(49 CRF Part 229; Docket #FRA-2025-0126)

FRA is proposing to revise § 229.73(b) which governs the maximum variation in locomotive wheel diameters on three-axle trucks (METRA, you may want to note this one). This rulemaking would allow for up to a 1-1/2 inch variation between any two wheelsets for locomotives equipped with AC traction motors that utilize single axle control. The existing 1-1/4 inch maximum would still apply to other locomotives, including 3-axle locomotives with DC traction.

Amendments to Brake System Maintenance and Inspection Requirements
(49 CRF Part 229, 232, 238; Docket #FRA-2025-0130)

This long-awaited update would make revisions to the periodic brake equipment maintenance requirements for calibration, maintenance, and testing (formerly referred to as COT&S). The proposed rulemaking codifies the maintenance periods for a number of brake valves currently under approved waivers, to permit longer periods of time between maintenance/replacement. Specifically, this would increase maintenance intervals for many common modern brake systems including all 26 Type brake systems, KB-HL1, KB-HS1, EPIC 1, EPIC 2, CCB-1, CT-1, CCB-2, CCB-26, and FastBrake brake systems. Additionally, the proposed rule would allow for maintenance cycles of up to 1,104 days for DMU and MU locomotives equipped with air dryers (up from 736 day). The rule would also require a self-test must be performed and passed on passenger equipment with electronic air brake systems as part of the periodic mechanical inspection.

Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers and Conductors: Incorporation of Longstanding C3RS Waivers
(49 CRF Part 240,242; Docket #FRA-2025-0131)

This proposed rule would codify relief from certain certification requirements under the engineer (Part 240) and conductor (Part 242) certification rules for railroads that participate in the FRA-sponsored Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3 RS).

Miscellaneous Revisions to the Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers
(49 CRF Part 240; Docket #FRA-2025-0132)

FRA is proposing a number of updates to its locomotive engineer qualification and certification program requirements, in addition to a number of administrative edits. Specifically, the substantive changes would reduce the amount of information required on an engineer’s certificate, while also allowing them to be electronic. Additionally, the NPRM proposes changes to the revocation and Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO) processes.

Miscellaneous Revisions to the Qualification and Certification of Conductors
(49 CRF Part 242; Docket #FRA-2025-0133)

This rule would make similar changes to the requirements for conductor qualification and certification programs as noted for locomotive engineers, above [FRA-2025-0132].

Enhancing Railroad Discretion in Sounding Locomotive Horns at Passenger Stations
(49 CRF Part 242; Docket #FRA-2025-0128)

This NPRM proposes to add the definition of “passenger station,” and clarifies that sounding of a horn at a passenger station is NOT required unless the use of a horn is required under another Federal regulation (i.e. RWP). The rule would also provide clarification that if railroad decides to sound a locomotive horn at a passenger station, the minimum sound level requirements would not apply.

The public comment period for all of the NPRMs is open until September 2, 2025. Please let us know if you’d like CRC to submit a comment on behalf of one or more of our members HERE.

For a complete breakdown of all of the rulemakings, including the ones that we did not cover in detail here, please reach out to CRC and we’ll be happy to forward you a more detailed table breaking down all of the 57 published rulemakings.