Regulatory Relief From Locomotive Horn Sounding Pattern at Public Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
Key claim: Train engineers whose locomotives have already stopped near a public highway-rail crossing may now sound a single horn blast instead of the required two-long, one-short, one-long pattern when they enter the crossing.
Abstract
(Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Railroad Administration) This final rule amends safety standards related to use of the locomotive horn to provide regulatory relief from the required pattern of sounding the locomotive horn in two long blasts, one short blast, and one long blast for locomotive engineers operating trains, locomotive consists, or individual locomotives that have stopped in close proximity to a public highway-rail grade crossing. This final rule allows locomotive engineers to vary the locomotive horn sounding pattern to one single blast of the horn as they enter the nearby public highway-rail grade crossing.
Why this matters
Horn-sounding patterns at grade crossings are a core FRA safety standard that balances audible warning for motorists and pedestrians against noise impacts on surrounding communities. Allowing a single blast for locomotives already stopped near a crossing is a narrow operational relief that reduces redundant noise without materially changing the warning provided to crossing users.