U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released the final safety standards allowing passenger trains to safely travel as fast as 220 mph (354 km/h). The final rule defines a new category of high-speed rail operations and makes it possible for high-speed rail to utilize existing infrastructure, saving the expense of building new rail lines. These new ‘Tier III’ passenger trains can operate over this shared track at conventional speeds, and as fast as 220 mph (354 km/h) in areas with exclusive rights-of-way and without grade crossings.
“These new regulations were made possible by a wealth of FRA research, reinforcing our unwavering commitment to safety. FRA’s safety experts solicited input from industry stakeholders at numerous levels and took those ideas to develop standards supporting a new era in public transportation,” FRA Administrator Ronald Batory said.
The final rule also establishes minimum safety standards for these trains, focusing on core, structural, and critical system design criteria. FRA estimates that the rule will improve safety because of expected improvements made by the railways to accommodate the operation of high-speed rail equipment in shared rights-of-way.
The final rule was needed as under FRA’s previous passenger equipment regulations, U.S. rail companies have had limited procurement options or have needed to petition FRA for waivers to use these newer technologies.
The final rule continues to define Tier I as trains operating in shared rights-of-way at speeds up to 125 mph (200 km/h), and it also allows state-of-the-art, alternative designs for equipment operating at these conventional speeds. Tier II trains are defined as those traveling between 125-160 mph (200-260 km/h), an increase from the previous 150 mph (240 km/h) limit. This supports a competitive operating environment for U.S. companies seeking to offer travelers more passenger rail options. By enabling the use of advanced equipment-safety technologies, this final rule helps eliminate the need for waivers.
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