Denton County Asks to Extend Stadler Car Relief

Denton County Transit Authority has asked the Federal Railroad Administration to extend a waiver so it can keep operating its Stadler diesel multiple-unit cars. The authority says the cars were built to European safety standards for crashworthiness and related safety measures. FRA published the petition on November 10, 2026, and opened it for comment through January 11, 2027. The November 10 paper is the notice and the invitation to comment.

What the petition covers By a letter dated August 11, 2026, the authority petitioned to extend a waiver in Docket No. FRA-2010-0180. The document is FR Doc. 2026-22926. The document details cite 91 FR 72613, pages 72613-72614. It was filed at 8:45 a.m. on November 9, 2026. The summary describes the request as relief from regulations related to passenger equipment. The supplementary information says the waiver runs to 49 CFR part 229, locomotive safety standards; part 231, safety appliance standards; and part 238, passenger equipment safety standards. The itemized list also includes the emergency preparedness plan at 49 CFR 239.101.

The locomotive sections are 229.31(d), main reservoir tests; 229.47(b), the emergency brake valve; 229.51(a)(3-4), aluminum main reservoirs; 229.71, clearance above the top of rail; 229.135(b)(4)(xviii and xix), event recorders; and Appendix D to part 229, on certification of a crashworthy event-recorder memory module. The safety-appliance section is 231.14(a)(2)(b-d, f-g), passenger-train cars without end platforms. The passenger-equipment sections are 238.115(b)(4)(ii), emergency lighting; 238.121(c)(2), emergency communication; 238.223(a), locomotive fuel tanks; 238.229, safety appliances in general; 238.230(d), safety appliances on new equipment; 238.305(c)(5), the interior calendar-day mechanical inspection of passenger cars; 238.309, periodic brake equipment maintenance; and Appendix D to part 238, on external fuel tanks for Tier I locomotives.

The authority says it has “complied with all facets” of the conditions and findings from FRA investigative research for the past 15 years. The petition is posted at regulations.gov.

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 Harold Weisinger, Railroad Safety Specialist in the Motive Power & Equipment Division, at 202-713-8702 or harold.weisinger@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. 2026-22926, document details 91 FR 72613, pages 72613-72614, Docket No. FRA-2010-0180, filed 11-9-26 at 8:45 a.m. The summary says Denton County Transit Authority petitioned for an extension of relief from regulations related to passenger equipment. By letter dated August 11, 2026, DCTA petitioned for an extension of a waiver from 49 CFR part 229 (Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards), part 231 (Railroad Safety Appliance Standards), and part 238 (Passenger Equipment Safety Standards). The notice sentence lists those three parts and leaves out the word and before part 238. The relevant docket in the heading and in the body is FRA-2010-0180. The itemized list: 49 CFR 229.31(d) Main reservoir tests; 229.47(b) Emergency brake valve; 229.51(a)(3-4) Aluminum main reservoirs; 229.71 Clearance above top of rail; 229.135(b)(4)(xviii and xix) Event recorders; and Appendix D, Criteria for Certification of Crashworthy Event Recorder Memory Module; 49 CFR 231.14(a)(2)(b-d, f-g) Passenger-train cars without end platforms; 49 CFR 238.115(b)(4)(ii) Emergency lighting; 238.121(c)(2) Emergency communication; 238.223(a) Locomotive fuel tanks; 238.229 Safety appliances, general; 238.230(d) Safety appliances, new equipment; 238.305(c)(5) Interior calendar day mechanical inspection of passenger cars; 238.309 Periodic brake equipment maintenance; and Appendix D, Requirements for External Fuel Tanks on Tier I Locomotives; and 49 CFR 239.101 Emergency preparedness plan. DCTA requests the extension to continue operation of its Stadler diesel multiple-unit vehicles, constructed to meet European safety standards for crashworthiness and related safety measures. DCTA states that it has “complied with all facets” of FRA conditions and findings from its investigative research for the past 15 years. 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 Harold Weisinger, Railroad Safety Specialist, Motive Power & Equipment Division, 202-713-8702, harold.weisinger@dot.gov. Issued in Washington, DC, by John Karl Alexy, Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer. federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/10/2026-22926/notice-of-petition-for-extension-of-waiver-of-compliance.

Denton County Asks to Extend Stadler Car Relief

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