On November 3, 2015 General Electric Transportation petitioned FRA for a waiver of compliance from portions of the Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards. Regulations currently require every locomotive to be tested for sound level compliance prior to entering service. New ET44AC Locomotives will be manufactured in Pennsylvania and delivered to buyers between January and March of 2016. GE feels that this delivery time-frame will likely preclude successful testing due to unfavorable weather conditions. GE is asking for the deadline to be extended to September 30, 2016. Interested parties may submit comments until January 25, 2015.
