Railroad Signal System Requirements

The information collected is to assure that railroad signal systems are tested and maintained in a safe and suitable condition and that they provide the safety intended in the Signal Inspection Act. Also, the information collected is to assure that modifications or malfunctions of signal systems are reported. The collection of information is mandatory, and affects Class I, Class II, Class III, passenger, and commuter railroads operating on the general system of transportation in the United States. Information collected is done on a daily, occasional, and annual basis. The type of Information collected includes both reporting and record keeping. Information collected includes reports of accidents resulting from signal failure, signal failure reports involving "false proceed" to trains, applications to FRA regarding changes by railroads to their approved signal systems, railroad requests for relied from the requirements of the rules, standards, and instructions contained in Part 236, reporting results of tests made in compliance with sections 236.102 to 26.109 (inclusive), sections 236.376 to 236.387 (inclusive), sections 236.576 and 236.577, and sections 236 .586 to 236.589 (inclusive) ans well as section 236.917(a). The information collected is used by FRA to monitor railroad compliance with the requirements of Part 236, especially the safe operation of signal systems throughout the country and to determine if a potential hazard exits in signal systems or devices similar to ones that caused a previous accident. The reporting of signal system accidents to FRA and the agency investigation of such accidents is highly instrumental in preventing future similar accidents.

The latest form for Railroad Signal System Requirements expires 2022-01-31 and can be found here.