e-CFR data is current as of February 24, 2021
TITLE 49—Transportation
Subtitle B—OTHER REGULATIONS RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) CHAPTER II—FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PART 236—RULES, STANDARDS, AND INSTRUCTIONS GOVERNING THE INSTALLATION, INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES
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| Applicability, minimum requirements, and penalties. |
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Subpart A—RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS: ALL SYSTEMS
General
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| Locking of signal apparatus housings. |
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| Interference with normal functioning of device. |
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| Design of control circuits on closed circuit principle. |
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| Hand-operated switch equipped with switch circuit controller. |
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| Circuit controller operated by switch-and-lock movement. |
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| Operating characteristics of electromagnetic, electronic, or electrical apparatus. |
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| Selection of circuits through indicating or annunciating instruments. |
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| Electric locks, force drop type; where required. |
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| Adjustment, repair, or replacement of component. |
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| Spring switch signal protection; where required. |
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| Spring switch; selection of signal control circuits through circuit controller. |
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| Spring switch signal protection; requirements. |
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| Electric lock, main track releasing circuit. |
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| Pipe for operating connections, requirements. |
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| Software management control plan. |
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Roadway Signals and Cab Signals
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| Location of roadway signals. |
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| Semaphore signal arm; clearance to other objects. |
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| Spacing of roadway signals. |
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| Buffing device, maintenance. |
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Track Circuits
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| Track circuit requirements. |
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| Track circuit feed at grade crossing. |
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| Minimum length of track circuit. |
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| Dead section; maximum length. |
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| Turnout, fouling section. |
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| Switch shunting circuit; use restricted. |
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Wires and Cables
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| Signal wires on pole line and aerial cable. |
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| Open-wire transmission line; clearance to other circuits. |
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| Protection of insulated wire; splice in underground wire. |
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| Tagging of wires and interference of wires or tags with signal apparatus. |
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Inspections and Tests; All Systems
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| Purpose of inspection and tests; removal from service of relay or device failing to meet test requirements. |
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| Semaphore or searchlight signal mechanism. |
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| Switch circuit controller or point detector. |
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| Insulation resistance tests, wires in trunking and cables. |
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| Time releases, timing relays and timing devices. |
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Subpart B—AUTOMATIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEMS
Standards
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| Track-circuit control of signals. |
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| Signal governing movements over hand-operated switch. |
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| Hand operated crossover between main tracks; protection. |
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| Track signaled for movements in both directions, requirements. |
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| Signal control circuits; requirements. |
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| Battery or power supply with respect to relay; location. |
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| Electric lock on hand-operated switch; control. |
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Subpart C—INTERLOCKING
Standards
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| Where signals shall be provided. |
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| Track circuits and route locking. |
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| Control circuits for signals, selection through circuit controller operated by switch points or by switch locking mechanism. |
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| Mechanical locking or same protection effected by circuits. |
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| Approach or time locking. |
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| Facing point lock or switch-and-lock movement. |
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| Mechanical or electric locking or electric circuits; requisites. |
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| Loss of shunt protection; where required. |
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| Signal governing approach to home signal. |
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| Signal control circuits, selection through track relays or devices functioning as track relays and through signal mechanism contacts and time releases at automatic interlocking. |
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| Movable bridge, interlocking of signal appliances with bridge devices. |
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| Electric lock for hand-operated switch or derail. |
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Rules and Instructions
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| Mechanical locking removed or disarranged; requirement for permitting train movements through interlocking. |
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| Switch, movable-point frog or split-point derail. |
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| Plunger of facing-point lock. |
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| Locking dog of switch-and-lock movement. |
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| Dogs, stops and trunnions of mechanical locking. |
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| Locking faces of mechanical locking; fit. |
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| Mechanical locking required in accordance with locking sheet and dog chart. |
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| Mechanical locking, maintenance requirements. |
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| Electromechanical interlocking machine; locking between electrical and mechanical levers. |
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| Latch shoes, rocker links, and quadrants. |
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| Switch circuit controller. |
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Inspection and Tests
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| Valve locks, valves, and valve magnets. |
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| Restoring feature on power switches. |
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Subpart D—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
Standards
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| Automatic block signal system and interlocking standards applicable to traffic control systems. |
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| Signals controlled by track circuits and control operator. |
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| Signals at controlled point. |
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| Signals at adjacent control points. |
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| Track signaled for movements in both directions, change of direction of traffic. |
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| Approach or time locking; where required. |
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| Locking, hand-operated switch; requirements. |
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Rules and Instructions
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| Interlocking rules and instructions applicable to traffic control systems. |
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Inspection and Tests
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| Interlocking inspections and tests applicable to traffic control systems. |
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Subpart E—AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP, TRAIN CONTROL AND CAB SIGNAL SYSTEMS
Standards
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| Forestalling device and speed control. |
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| Automatic brake application, initiation by restrictive block conditions stopping distance in advance. |
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| Automatic brake application; initiation when predetermined rate of speed exceeded. |
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| Operation interconnected with automatic block-signal system. |
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| Proper operative relation between parts along roadway and parts on locomotive. |
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| Release of brakes after automatic application. |
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| Brake application; full service. |
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| Interference with application of brakes by means of brake valve. |
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| Two or more locomotives coupled. |
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| Cab signals controlled in accordance with block conditions stopping distance in advance. |
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| Cab signal indication when locomotive enters block where restrictive conditions obtain. |
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| Interconnection of cab signal system with roadway signal system. |
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| Visibility of cab signals. |
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Rules and Instructions; Roadway
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| Roadway element not functioning properly. |
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| Roadway element insulation resistance. |
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| Restrictive condition resulting from open hand-operated switch; requirement. |
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| Roadway element inductor; height and distance from rail. |
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| Trip arm; height and distance from rail. |
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| Strap iron inductor; use restricted. |
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| Entrance to equipped territory; requirements. |
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Rules and Instructions; Locomotives
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| Power supply voltage; requirement. |
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| Insulation resistance; requirement. |
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| Rate of pressure reduction; equalizing reservoir or brake pipe. |
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| Repaired or rewound receiver coil. |
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| Receiver; location with respect to rail. |
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| Contact element, mechanical trip type; location with respect to rail. |
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| Minimum rail current required. |
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| Provision made for preventing operation of pneumatic brake-applying apparatus by double-heading cock; requirement. |
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| Locomotive of each train operating in train stop, train control or cab signal territory; equipped. |
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| Restrictions imposed when device fails and/or is cut out en route. |
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| Difference between speeds authorized by roadway signal and cab signal; action required. |
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Inspection and Tests; Roadway
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| Test, acknowledgement, and cut-in circuits. |
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Inspection and Tests; Locomotive
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| Daily or after trip test. |
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Subpart F—DRAGGING EQUIPMENT AND SLIDE DETECTORS AND OTHER SIMILAR PROTECTIVE DEVICES
Standards
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| Signals controlled by devices; location. |
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Subpart G—DEFINITIONS
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| Application, brake; full service. |
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| Characteristics, operating. |
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| Circuit, double wire; line. |
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| Circuit, switch shunting. |
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| Controller, circuit; switch. |
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| Lock, electric, forced drop. |
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| Movement, switch-and-lock. |
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| Plunger, facing point lock. |
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| Position, false restrictive. |
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| Principle, closed circuit. |
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| Signal, slotted mechanical. |
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| Spectacle, semaphore arm. |
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| Switch, electro-pneumatic. |
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| System, automatic block signal. |
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| System, automatic train control. |
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| System, automatic train stop. |
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| Valve, electro-pneumatic. |
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Subpart H—STANDARDS FOR PROCESSOR-BASED SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS
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| Railroad Safety Program Plan (RSPP). |
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| Product Safety Plan (PSP). |
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| Minimum performance standard. |
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| Filing and approval of PSPs. |
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| Implementation and operation. |
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| Operations and Maintenance Manual. |
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| Training and qualification program, general. |
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| Task analysis and basic requirements. |
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| Training specific to control office personnel. |
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| Training specific to locomotive engineers and other operating personnel. |
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| Training specific to roadway workers. |
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Subpart I—POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS
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| Requirements for Positive Train Control systems. |
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| Equipping locomotives operating in PTC territory. |
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| Additional requirements for high-speed service. |
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| PTC Implementation Plan content requirements. |
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| PTC Development Plan and Notice of Product Intent content requirements and Type Approval. |
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| PTC Safety Plan content requirements and PTC System Certification. |
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| Independent third party Verification and Validation. |
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| Main line track exceptions. |
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| Discontinuances, material modifications, and amendments. |
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| PTC system use and failures. |
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| Previously approved PTC systems. |
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| Communications and security requirements. |
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| Field testing requirements. |
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| Operations and Maintenance Manual. |
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| Training and qualification program, general. |
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| Task analysis and basic requirements. |
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| Training specific to office control personnel. |
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| Training specific to locomotive engineers and other operating personnel. |
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| Training specific to roadway workers. |
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| Appendix A to Part 236 [Reserved] |
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| Appendix F to Part 236—Minimum Requirements of FRA Directed Independent Third-Party Assessment of PTC System Safety Verification and Validation |
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