[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: 49CFR239.105]

[Page 617]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 239--PASSENGER TRAIN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS--Table of Contents
 
                    Subpart B--Specific Requirements
 
Sec. 239.105  Debriefing and critique.

    (a) General. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, 
each railroad operating passenger train service shall conduct a 
debriefing and critique session after each passenger train emergency 
situation or full-scale simulation to determine the effectiveness of its 
emergency preparedness plan, and shall improve or amend its plan, or 
both, as appropriate, in accordance with the information developed. The 
debriefing and critique session shall be conducted within 60 days of the 
date of the passenger train emergency situation or full-scale 
simulation.
    (b) Exceptions. (1) No debriefing and critique session shall be 
required in the case of an emergency situation involving only a 
collision between passenger railroad rolling stock and: a pedestrian; a 
trespasser; or a motor vehicle or other highway conveyance at a highway-
rail grade crossing, provided that the collision does not result in: a 
passenger or employee fatality, or an injury to one or more crewmembers 
or passengers requiring admission to a hospital; or the evacuation of a 
passenger train. (2) For purposes of this section, highway-rail grade 
crossing means a location where a public highway, road, street, or 
private roadway, including associated sidewalks and pathways, crosses 
one or more railroad tracks at grade, and trespasser means a person who 
is on that part of railroad property used in railroad operation and 
whose presence is prohibited, forbidden, or unlawful.
    (c) Purpose of debriefing and critique. The debriefing and critique 
session shall be designed to determine, at a minimum:
    (1) Whether the on-board communications equipment functioned 
properly;
    (2) How much time elapsed between the occurrence of the emergency 
situation or full-scale simulation and notification to the emergency 
responders involved;
    (3) Whether the control center promptly initiated the required 
notifications;
    (4) How quickly and effectively the emergency responders responded 
after notification; and
    (5) How efficiently the passengers exited from the car through the 
emergency exits.
    (d) Records. (1) Each railroad shall maintain records of its 
debriefing and critique sessions at its system headquarters and 
applicable division headquarters for two calendar years after the end of 
the calendar year to which they relate, including the following 
information:
    (i) Date and location of the passenger train emergency situation or 
full-scale simulation;
    (ii) Date and location of the debriefing and critique session; and
    (iii) Names of all participants in the debriefing and critique 
session.
    (2) These records shall be made available to representatives of FRA 
and States participating under part 212 of this chapter for inspection 
and copying during normal business hours.