RWU
Red Alert!
FRA Grants Sweeping Emergency Waiver to Rail Industry!

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has has issued a 60-day emergency waiver for certain requirements of FRA’s rail safety regulations, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The petitioners, on behalf of their member railroads, requested - and were granted - relief from certain requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR Parts 213, 214, 217, 218, 219, 220, 228, 229, 232, 234, 236, 239, 240, and 242).

NOTE: The "relief" granted by FRA applies to ALL rail companies in the United States.

Many of the regulations that you have worked under - in some cases for your entire career on the railroad - will no longer be enforced. This is a total game changer. Be prepared to be ordered to do any one of a number of tasks, that yesterday would have been a violation of federal law, yet today, failure to carry them out could result in temrination!

Meantime, the FRA has so far refused to respond in such fashion to the rail unions petition, ignoring their pleas to – among other things – recall to service some of the thousands who have been laid off in recent months. Yet, while they remain in furlough status - complements of the carriers' scorched-earth business model of Precision Scheduled Railroading - the railroads are clamoring about "labor shortages" and are granted relief by the FRA! This reaches new depths of arrogance and tyranny, much less evil and immorality. Read more at link below...
What are the Regulations that the FRA has Waived?

49 CFR is the Chapter of the Code of Federal Regulations that governs railroads and railroad workers. Below are links to the 14 Parts included in the waiver. NOTE: All or part of each may be waived. Refer to the "Full text of the Emergency Waiver" button link above.

213 - Track Safety Standards (roadbed, geometry, structure, track appliances, inspection)

214 - Railroad Workplace Safety (track and Bridge Maintenance)

217 - Railroad Operating Rules (filing, recod keeping, tests, inspections)

218 - Railroad Operating Practices (blue signal, train/engine protection, camp cars, swithces, derails)

219 - Control of Alcohol & Drug Use (random, reasonable suspician, pre-employment, post-accident)

220 - Railroad Communications (radio and wireles communications, electronic communications)

228 - Passenger Train Employee Hours of Service (record keeping, camp cars, construction of sleeping quarters, fatigue management pllans)

229 - Locomotive Safety Standards (inspections, tests, crashworthiness, electronics, standards

232 - Brake System Safety Standards (inspection, testing, requirements, training, air brake tests, end-of-train device, double heading and helper service)

234 - Grade Crossing Safety (maintenance, inspection, testing, reporting, emergencies)

236 - Signal and Train Control Systems (rules, standars, instructions, installations, maintenance)

239 - Passenger Train Emergency Preparedness (operational tests and inspections; record keeping; review, approval and retention of ememrgency plans)

240 - Qualification & Certification of Locomotive Engineers (implementation, administration, testing, driving records, medical standars)

242 - Qualification & Certification of Conductors (implementation, administration, testing, driving records, medical standars)


Railroad Workers United
"The Rank & File in Action!"