Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration 49 CFR Part 240 [Docket No. FRA-2025-0132; Notice No. 2] RIN 2130-AD60 AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This rule updates FRA's locomotive engineer certification requirements to reduce the information required on a locomotive engineer's certificate, and allowing certificates to be electronic. This rule also changes the certification revocation process and the Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO) process. Lastly, this rule makes administrative updates, including revising definitions and correcting errors in the regulatory text. DATES: This rule is effective May 28, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christian Holt, Staff Director—Operating Practices Division, FRA, telephone: 202-366-0978, email: christian.holt@dot.gov ; or Michael C. Spinnicchia, Attorney Adviser, FRA, telephone: 202-713-7671, email: michael.spinnicchia@dot.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Consistent with Executive Order (E.O.) 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation ( 90 FR 9065 , Feb. 6, 2025), and E.O. 14219 , Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President's “Department of Government Efficiency” Deregulatory Initiative ( 90 FR 10583 , Feb. 25, 2025), FRA is reviewing its regulatory requirements in parts 200 through 299 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and revising requirements to reduce unnecessary r…