[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR232.1]

[Page 439-440]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 232--BRAKE SYSTEM SAFETY STANDARDS for FREIGHT and OTHER NON-PASSENGER TRAINS and EQUIPMENT; END-of-TRAIN DEVICES--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec. 232.1  Scope.


    (a) This part prescribes Federal safety standards for freight and 
other non-passenger train brake systems and equipment. Subpart E of this 
part prescribes Federal safety standards not only for freight and other 
non-passenger train brake systems and equipment, but also for passenger 
train brake systems. This part does not restrict a railroad from 
adopting or enforcing additional or more stringent requirements not 
inconsistent with this part.
    (b) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this paragraph or 
in this part, railroads to which this part applies shall comply with all 
the requirements contained in subparts A through C and subpart F of this 
part beginning on April 1, 2004. Sections 232.1 through 232.13 and 
232.17 through 232.21 of this part will become applicable to all 
railroads to which this part applies beginning on May 31, 2001. Subpart 
D of this part will become applicable to all railroads to which this 
part applies beginning on August 1, 2001. Subpart E of this part will 
become applicable to all trains operating on track which is part of the 
general railroad system of transportation beginning on May 31, 2001.

[[Page 440]]

    (c) A railroad may request earlier application of the requirements 
contained in subparts A through C and subpart F of this part upon 
written notification to FRA's Associate Administrator for Safety. Such a 
request shall indicate the railroad's readiness and ability to comply 
with all of the requirements contained in those subparts.
    (d) Except for operations identified in Sec. 232.3(c)(1), (c)(4), 
and (c)(6) through (c)(8), all railroads which are part of the general 
railroad system of transportation shall operate pursuant to the 
requirements contained in this part 232 as it existed on May 31, 2001 
and included as Appendix B to this part until they are either required 
to operate pursuant to the requirements contained in this part or the 
requirements contained in part 238 of this chapter or they elect to 
comply earlier than otherwise required with the requirements contained 
in this part or the requirements contained in part 238 of this chapter.

[66 FR 4193, Jan. 17, 2001, as amended at 66 FR 9906, Feb. 12, 2001]