[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR213.57]
[Page 97-99]
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
PART 213--TRACK SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
Subpart C--Track Geometry
Sec. 213.57 Curves; elevation and speed limitations.
(a) The maximum crosslevel on the outside rail of a curve may not be
more than 8 inches on track Classes 1 and 2 and 7 inches on Classes 3
through 5. Except as provided in Sec. 213.63, the outside rail of a
curve may not be lower than the inside rail. (The first sentence of
paragraph (a) is applicable September 21, 1999.)
(b)(1) The maximum allowable operating speed for each curve is
determined by the following formula--
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22JN98.001
Where--
Vmax = Maximum allowable operating speed (miles per hour).
Ea = Actual elevation of the outside rail (inches).\1\
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\1\ Actual elevation for each 155 foot track segment in the body of
the curve is determined by averaging the elevation for 10 points through
the segment at 15.5 foot spacing. If the curve length is less than 155
feet, average the points through the full length of the body of the
curve.
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D = Degree of curvature (degrees).\2\
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\2\ Degree of curvature is determined by averaging the degree of
curvature over the same track segment as the elevation.
(2) Table 1 of Appendix A is a table of maximum allowable operating
speed computed in accordance with this formula for various elevations
and degrees of curvature.
(c)(1) For rolling stock meeting the requirements specified in
paragraph (d) of this section, the maximum operating speed for each
curve may be determined by the following formula--
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22JN98.002
Where--
Vmax = Maximum allowable operating speed (miles per hour).
Ea = Actual elevation of the outside rail (inches).\1\
D = Degree of curvature (degrees).\2\
(2) Table 2 of Appendix A is a table of maximum allowable operating
speed
[[Page 98]]
computed in accordance with this formula for various elevations and
degrees of curvature.
(d) Qualified equipment may be operated at curving speeds determined
by the formula in paragraph (c) of this section, provided each specific
class of equipment is approved for operation by the Federal Railroad
Administration and the railroad demonstrates that:
(1) When positioned on a track with a uniform 4-inch superelevation,
the roll angle between the floor of the equipment and the horizontal
does not exceed 5.7 degrees; and
(2) When positioned on a track with a uniform 6 inch superelevation,
no wheel of the equipment unloads to a value of 60 percent of its static
value on perfectly level track, and the roll angle between the floor of
the equipment and the horizontal does not exceed 8.6 degrees.
(3) The track owner shall notify the Federal Railroad Administrator
no less than 30 calendar days prior to the proposed implementation of
the higher curving speeds allowed under the formula in paragraph (c) of
this section. The notification shall be in writing and shall contain, at
a minimum, the following information--
(i) A complete description of the class of equipment involved,
including schematic diagrams of the suspension systems and the location
of the center of gravity above top of rail;
(ii) A complete description of the test procedure \3\ and
instrumentation used to qualify the equipment and the maximum values for
wheel unloading and roll angles which were observed during testing;
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\3\ The test procedure may be conducted in a test facility whereby
all the wheels on one side (right or left) of the equipment are
alternately raised and lowered by 4 and 6 inches and the vertical wheel
loads under each wheel are measured and a level is used to record the
angle through which the floor of the equipment has been rotated.
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(iii) Procedures or standards in effect which relate to the
maintenance of the suspension system for the particular class of
equipment; and
(iv) Identification of line segment on which the higher curving
speeds are proposed to be implemented.
(e) A track owner, or an operator of a passenger or commuter
service, who provides passenger or commuter service over trackage of
more than one track owner with the same class of equipment may provide
written notification to the Federal Railroad Administrator with the
written consent of the other affected track owners.
(f) Equipment presently operating at curving speeds allowed under
the formula in paragraph (c) of this section, by reason of conditional
waivers granted by the Federal Railroad Administration, shall be
considered to have successfully complied with the requirements of
paragraph (d) of this section.
(g) A track owner or a railroad operating above Class 5 speeds, may
request approval from the Federal Railroad Administrator to operate
specified equipment at a level of cant deficiency greater than four
inches in accordance with Sec. 213.329(c) and (d) on curves in Class 1
through 5 track which are contiguous to the high speed track provided
that--
(1) The track owner or railroad submits a test plan to the Federal
Railroad Administrator for approval no less than thirty calendar days
prior to any proposed implementation of the higher curving speeds. The
test plan shall include an analysis and determination of carbody
acceleration safety limits for each vehicle type which indicate wheel
unloading of 60 percent in a steady state condition and 80 percent in a
transient (point by point) condition. Accelerometers shall be laterally-
oriented and floor-mounted near the end of a representative vehicle of
each type;
(2) Upon FRA approval of a test plan, the track owner or railroad
conducts incrementally increasing train speed test runs over the curves
in the identified track segment(s) to demonstrate that wheel unloading
is within the limits prescribed in paragraph (g)(1) of this section;
(3) Upon FRA approval of a cant deficiency level, the track owner or
railroad inspects the curves in the identified track segment with a
Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS) qualified in accordance with
Sec. 213.333 (b) through (g) at an inspection frequency of at least
twice annually with not less
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than 120 days interval between inspections; and
(4) The track owner or railroad operates an instrumented car having
dynamic response characteristics that are representative of other
equipment assigned to service or a portable device that monitors on-
board instrumentation on trains over the curves in the identified track
segment at the revenue speed profile at a frequency of at least once
every 90-day period with not less than 30 days interval between
inspections. The instrumented car or the portable device shall monitor a
laterally-oriented accelerometer placed near the end of the vehicle at
the floor level. If the carbody lateral acceleration measurement exceeds
the safety limits prescribed in paragraph (g)(1), the railroad shall
operate trains at curving speeds in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c)
of this section; and
(5) The track owner or railroad shall maintain a copy of the most
recent exception printouts for the inspections required under paragraphs
(g)(3) and (4) of this section.
[63 FR 34029, June 22, 1998; 63 FR 54078, Oct. 8, 1998]