Regulating Railroad Safety
By Ernie Von Ibsch
This sidebar can be found on page 38 of the Nov/Dec 1998 issue of 9-1-1 Magazine. |
Approximately 30 states nationwide participate in the enforcement of US Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, in a partnering relationship with the Federal Railway Administration (FRA).
In California the agency for railroad safety is the State Public Utilities Commission. The Commission's Railroad Operations and Safety Section is federally certified to enforce the federal rail safety regulations found in Title 49, which covers the following rail safety disciplines; Track, Motive Power and Equipment (locomotives and cars), Operating Practices, Signal and Train Control, Hazardous Materials Transportation and some aspects of Grade Crossing Safety.
The Commission's Railroad Operations and Safety Section works with the FRA in the enforcement of the Title 49 safety regulations. They also enforce state rail safety regulations such as General Order 161, which mandates the immediate reporting of rail hazmat incidents, identification of long distance equivalents of 9-1-1 by railroads, 24-hour emergency railroad contact phone numbers, railcar tank cars storage and histories of rail hazmat shipments through a pubic safety agency jurisdiction. Other areas of state railroad safety regulation are occupational safety side clearances and walkways along railroad tracks for trainmen. The blocking of public grade crossings is also regulated, limiting standing trains to 10 minutes with exceptions pertaining to the safety of the train operations.
In general, train speeds are set by the railroads based on Title 49 Part 213, which identifies six standards that specify train speed over that track. Class 1 track is the normal, minimum track safety level, which is 10mph for freight trains and 15 mph for passenger. Class 6 allows train speeds up to 100 MPH. Each Class of Track sets a maximum for speed for passenger and freight trains. The Track Classes are based on grade, curvature and the level of maintenance applied by the railroad. Train control signaling also is a controlling factor relating to speed of trains in the higher classes of track.
The California PUC has three Railroad Operations and Safety Section offices, located in San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles. Each is staffed with a compliment of railroad safety inspectors who have expert knowledge in one of the five railroad safety disciplines (Track, Motive Power and Equipment, Operating Practices, Train and Signal Control and Rail Transportation of Hazardous Materials). They have specific legislated mandates to investigate railroad accident/incidents and inspect class I trackage and equipment.
In the area of grade crossing safety, the Commission's Traffic Engineering Section reviews applications for authority to construct public pedestrian or vehicle crossing of railroad tracks. They review the need for and safety of the at-grade crossing verses the preferred grade separation (under or overpass) and then make recommendations to the Commission to authorize or deny the application. Two other areas of public concern they address are the types of warning devices installed at grade crossings and the type and maintenance roadway surfaces at grade crossings.
Grade crossing safety is also addressed through a public outreach program known as "Operation Lifesaver," which is sponsored by the railroad industry, state and federal agencies. The program is targeted at schools, business groups, school bus drivers, fire and law enforcement agencies and the general public. In California contact: Eric Jacobsen, State Coordinator, California Operation Lifesaver at (916) 367-3918 or FAX (916) 367-3053.
The Commission's Rail Transit Safety Section is responsible for light rail systems and automated rail rapid transit systems. Some examples of these rail transit systems are the San Diego Trolley, Municipal Railway of San Francisco and automated operations such as BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and Los Angeles' new Red Line linking Downtown LA with the San Fernando Valley. This Section also works closely with the Federal Transit Administration. They work closely with local fire departments on "fire/life safety issues" that arise during the design, construction and operation these rail systems. On some of the larger systems they have facilitated the establishment of Fire Service/Transit Agency Liaison Committees. Many of these rail transit systems have extensive underground trackage.
