Here's a brief look at what’s happening in the world of FRA Regulations.

Part 242-Conductor Certification. FRA is prescribing regulations for certification of conductors, as required by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. This rule requires railroads to have a formal program for certifying conductors. As part of that program, railroads are required to have a formal process for training prospective conductors and determining that all persons are competent before permitting them to serve as a conductor. FRA is issuing this regulation to ensure that only those persons who meet minimum Federal safety standards serve as conductors, to reduce the rate and number of accidents and incidents, and to improve railroad safety. Although this rule does not propose any specific amendments to the regulation governing locomotive engineer certification, it does highlight areas in that regulation that may require conforming changes. Effectuve date January 1, 2012.

Part 225-Railroad Accidents-Incidents: Reports Classifiction, and Investigations. ?This rule increases the rail equipment accident/incident reporting threshold from $9,400 to $9,500 for certain railroad accidents/incidents involving property damage that occur during calendar year 2012. This action is needed to ensure that FRA's reporting requirements reflect cost increases that have occurred since the reporting threshold was last published in December of 2010. Effectuve date January 1, 2012.