As alluded to above, the timeline as it relates to implementation of the FRA certification rule has now been extended by the FRA.  As most are aware, the next step in the process to fully enact certification was for the Carriers to submit their certification plans to the FRA by the end of March 2025.  We were recently informed that the Carriers’ various lobbying organizations (AAR, APTA, CRC, ASLRRA, etc.) have successfully lobbied for a postponement to finalize their certification plans and it is possible there are more changes on the horizon. 

In total, the rail Carriers submitted 16 motions for amendments to the final rule.  The FRA rejected 9 of those motions and granted an extension beyond what was asked for in another (12-month total postponement for cert. plans).  We are uncertain as to what the remaining motions being considered pertain to, but this is the reason we are holding our breath about the potential of additional alterations to the final rule.