# Notice of Petition for Waiver of Compliance
**AGENCY:**
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).
**ACTION:**
Notice.
**SUMMARY:**
This document provides the public notice that the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) petitioned FRA for relief from certain regulations concerning passenger equipment exterior side doors.
**DATES:**
FRA must receive comments on the petition by January 8, 2026. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable.
**ADDRESSES:**
*Comments:* Comments related to this docket may be submitted by going to *https://www.regulations.gov* and following the online instructions for submitting comments.
*Instructions:* All submissions must include the agency name and docket number. All comments received will be posted without change to *https://www.regulations.gov;* this includes any personal information. Please see the Privacy Act heading in the *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* section of this document for Privacy Act information related to any submitted comments or materials.
*Docket:* For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to *https://www.regulations.gov* and follow the online instructions for accessing the docket.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Harold Weisinger, Railroad Safety Specialist, FRA Motive Power & Equipment Division, telephone: 202-493-0036, email: *[email protected].*
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letters dated November 8, 2024 and December 3, 2025, Amtrak petitioned FRA for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 238 (Passenger Equipment Safety Standards). The relevant Docket Number is FRA-2025-1050.
Specifically, Amtrak requests relief from § 238.131(b)(4), *Safety system for manual and powered exterior side doors,* which states that if a door is equipped with a by-pass device, the by-pass device must function “only when activated from the operating cab of the train.” Amtrak, with Siemens, has been developing the Airo intercity trainsets, which, in addition to the standard door summary circuit and sealed door by-pass device located in the operating cab, includes a “local sealed by-pass device . . . in the trainset.” In its petition, Amtrak states that the device “allow[s] for [a] single car to be by-passed if an issue arises enroute[,] while preserving the remaining door summary circuit for the trainset.” Amtrak adds that the switch allows a conductor to by-pass the exterior doors on the single passenger vehicle without by-passing the entire door summary circuit.
A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at *www.regulations.gov.*
Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral comment and a public hearing, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request.
Communications received by January 8, 2026 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered if practicable.
**Privacy Act**
Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of FRA's dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to *www.regulations.gov,* as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at *https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.* See also *https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice* for the privacy notice of *regulations.gov* .
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.