SunRail Signal Waiver Is Open for Comment
Published: November 10, 2026
By: Adam Burns
The Federal Railroad Administration on November 10, 2026, asked for comment on a petition to extend relief from periodic signal tests on the Central Florida Rail Corridor. This site covers passenger service on that corridor as SunRail. The notice itself uses the corridor name. In one paragraph it also says CSXT filed the request.
Sunrail MP32PH-Q #107 is southbound at Sanford, Florida on March 11, 2015. Sunrail began service in 2014 on ex-CSX trackage. Doug Kroll photo.
Who the notice says filed it
The summary says the Central Florida Rail Corridor petitioned for an extension of relief from periodic testing requirements on vital microprocessor-based signal systems. The supplementary information says that by a letter dated June 1, 2026, CSXT petitioned for an extension of a waiver from 49 CFR part 236, the rules for signal and train control systems. That paragraph says the relevant docket number is FRA-2009-0120. The heading of the notice is Docket No. FRA-2020-0062. The following paragraph says the Central Florida Rail Corridor seeks the extension. The document is FR Doc. 2026-22929. The document details cite 91 FR 72612, one page. It was filed at 8:45 a.m. on November 9, 2026.
Which tests are covered
The corridor seeks an extension of relief from 49 CFR 236.377, approach locking; 236.378, time locking; 236.379, route locking; 236.380, indication locking; and 236.381, traffic locking. The relief already in place changes those tests from “at least once every 2 years” to every 4 years, after the initial test is completed. The four-year figure is that testing interval. The notice then sets a comment deadline of January 11, 2027.
In the petition, the corridor says it has updated and submitted the listings of the signal locations covered by the waiver, and that every new location was thoroughly tested before it was placed in service. The notice is the invitation to comment. Final action comes later.
How to comment
FRA must receive comments on the petition by January 11, 2027. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable. A later paragraph says communications received by January 11, 2027, will be considered before final action is taken, and that comments received after that date will be considered if practicable.
FRA said it does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing, since the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. A party that wants oral comment and a public hearing should notify FRA in writing before the comment period ends and specify the basis for the request. The contact is Scott Johnson, Railroad Safety Specialist in the Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division, at 406-657-6642 or scott.j.johnson@dot.gov. John Karl Alexy, Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety and Chief Safety Officer, issued the notice in Washington, DC.
Related reading on American-Rails.com
Sources
- Federal Railroad Administration, “Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance,” Federal Register, November 10, 2026, FR Doc. 2026-22929, document details 91 FR 72612, one page, heading Docket No. FRA-2020-0062, filed 11-9-26 at 8:45 a.m. The summary says the Central Florida Rail Corridor petitioned for an extension of relief from periodic testing requirements on vital microprocessor-based signal systems. The supplementary information says that by letter dated June 1, 2026, CSXT petitioned for an extension of a waiver from 49 CFR part 236, and that “The relevant Docket Number is FRA-2009-0120.” The next paragraph says CFRC seeks an extension of relief from 49 CFR 236.377 Approach locking, 236.378 Time locking, 236.379 Route locking, 236.380 Indication locking, and 236.381 Traffic locking, related to vital microprocessor-based systems. The existing relief extends those testing requirements from “at least once every 2 years” to every 4 years, after initial testing is completed. The notice says CFRC has “updated and submitted the listings of all signal[ ] locations being periodically testing in accordance” with the waiver, including a bracketed space inside the word signal and the word testing in that phrase, and that “all new locations have been thoroughly tested prior to being placed in service.” DATES: comments by January 11, 2027, and later comments to the extent practicable. A later paragraph: communications received by January 11, 2027, will be considered before final action, and comments after that date will be considered if practicable. FRA does not anticipate a public hearing. A party that wants one must notify FRA in writing before the comment period ends and specify the basis. Contact Scott Johnson, Railroad Safety Specialist, Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division, 406-657-6642, scott.j.johnson@dot.gov. Issued in Washington, DC, by John Karl Alexy, Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer. federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/10/2026-22929/notice-of-petition-for-extension-of-waiver-of-compliance.
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