Moving toward Unrestricted Shared Use

This paper describes the process that the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) in California used to obtain a waiver of FRA crashworthiness regulations to allow the operation of European-style electric multiple units (EMUs) commingled with FRA-compliant passenger trains. It presents the five basic components of the waiver petition, provides details about the safety features of the European-style EMUs, and summarizes the lessons learned during the 3-year process. Operating non-FRA-compliant European-style EMUs commingled with FRA-compliant locomotive-hauled passenger trains will not compromise Caltrain's safety and the measures to be put in place as conditions of the waiver will enhance the overall safety of the system.