(3) have recordings accessible for review during an accident or incident investigation.(c) REVIEW: The Secretary shall establish a process to review and approve or disapprove an inward- or outward-facing image recording device for compliance with the standards described in subsection (b).
(d) USES: A railroad carrier subject to the requirements of subsection (a) that has installed an inward- or outward-facing image recording device approved under subsection (c) may use recordings from that inward- or outward-facing image recording device for the following purposes:
(1) Verifying that train crew actions are in accordance with applicable safety laws and the railroad carrier's operating rules and procedures, including a system-wide program for such verification.
(2) Assisting in an investigation into the causation of a reportable accident or incident.
(3) Documenting a criminal act or monitoring unauthorized occupancy of the controlling locomotive cab or car operating compartment.
(4) Other purposes that the Secretary considers appropriate.
(e) DISCRETION:
(1) IN GENERAL: The secretary may:
(A) require in-cab audio recording devices for the purposes described in subsection (d); and
(B) define in appropriate technical detail the essential features of the devices required under subparagraph (A).
(2) EXEMPTIONS: The Secretary may exempt any railroad carrier subject to the requirements of subsection (a) or any part of the carrier's operations from the requirements under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that the carrier has implemented an alternative technology or practice that provides an equivalent or greater safety benefit or that is better suited to the risks of the operation.
2.2 FRA Emergency Order
On May 21, 2015, the FRA issued Emergency Order No. 31, Notice No. 1, requiring Amtrak to take the following actions to control passenger train speed at certain locations on main line track in the Northeast Corridor: (1) immediately implement code changes to its ATC system to enforce the passenger train speed limit ahead of the curve at Frankford Junction; (2) identify each main track curve on the Northeast Corridor where there is a significant reduction (more than 20 mph) from the maximum authorized approach speed to those curves for passenger
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