Data / Federal rules / 2026-17789
Repealing Outdated Railroad Workplace Safety Requirements and Making Other Improvements
The Federal Railroad Administration published this final rule in the Federal Register on August 31, 2026. It took effect on September 30, 2026.
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What the agency says
This rule repeals several roadway workplace safety requirements that have become obsolete. In addition, FRA establishes a new special approval procedure to enable regulated entities, after public notice and FRA approval, to utilize an alternative approach to bridge worker safety that provides for an equivalent or better level of safety. Also, this rule clarifies that the required training for operators of roadway maintenance machines equipped with a crane includes specific aspects such as maintaining vertical clearance.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2026-17789
- Type
- Final rule
- Action
- Final rule
- Agency
- Transportation Department; Federal Railroad Administration
- Published
- August 31, 2026
- Takes effect
- September 30, 2026
- Dates
- This rule is effective September 30, 2026.
- Docket
- Docket No. FRA-2025-0083
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 2130-AD44
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 49 CFR 214
- Topics
- Bridges; Occupational safety and health; Penalties; Railroad safety; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
- Pages
- 5
Other documents from the Federal Railroad Administration
| Document | Type | Published |
|---|---|---|
| National Environmental Policy Act Regulations 2026-17904 · significant | Final rule | Sep 1 |
| Permitting Use of Computer-Based, Three-Dimensional Simulation for Periodic Refresher Training on Brake Systems 2026-17792 | Final rule | Aug 31 |
| Miscellaneous Amendments to FRA's Accident Reporting Regulations 2026-17791 | Final rule | Aug 31 |
| Retiring Form FRA F 6180.107 and Form FRA F 6180.150 2026-17790 | Final rule | Aug 31 |
| Expanding Certain Locomotive Wheel Set Diameter Variations 2026-17788 | Final rule | Aug 31 |
| Repealing Special Approval Requirement for Freight Cars More Than 50 Years Old 2026-17787 | Final rule | Aug 31 |
| Enhancing Railroad Discretion in Sounding Locomotive Horns at Passenger Stations 2026-17786 | Final rule | Aug 31 |
| Amendments to Brake System Maintenance and Inspection Requirements 2026-17784 | Final rule | Aug 31 |
Everything from the Federal Railroad Administration · Rules on bridges · Rules on occupational safety and health · Rules on penalties · Published in August 2026
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.