49 C.F.R. § 217.9 Program of operational tests and inspections; recordkeeping.
Title 49 - Transportation
(a) Requirement to conduct operational tests and inspections. Each railroad to which this part applies shall periodically conduct operational tests and inspections to determine the extent of compliance with its code of operating rules, timetables, and timetable special instructions in accordance with a written program retained at its system headquarters and at the division headquarters for each division where the tests are conducted. (b) Written program of operational tests and inspections. On or after November 21, 1994, or 30 days before commencing operations, whichever is later, each railroad to which this part applies shall retain one copy of its current program for periodic performance of the operational tests and inspections required by paragraph (a) of this section and one copy of each subsequent amendment to such program. These records shall be retained at the system headquarters of the railroad and at the division headquarters for each division where the tests are conducted, for three calendar years after the end of the calendar year to which they relate. These records shall be made available to representatives of the Federal Railroad Administration for inspection and copying during normal business hours. The program shall— (1) Provide for operational testing and inspection under the various operating conditions on the railroad; (2) Describe each type of operational test and inspection adopted, including the means and procedures used to carry it out; (3) State the purpose of each type of operational test and inspection; (4) State, according to operating divisions where applicable, the frequency with which each type of operational test and inspection is conducted; (5) Begin within 30 days after November 21, 1994, or the date of commencing operations, whichever is later; and (6) Include a schedule for making the program fully operative within 210 days after it begins. (c) Records of individual tests and inspections. Each railroad to which this part applies shall keep a record of the date, time, place, and result of each operational test and inspection that was performed in accordance with its program. Each record shall specify the officer administering the test and inspection and each employee tested. These records shall be retained at the system headquarters of the railroad and at the division headquarters for each division where the tests are conducted for one calendar year after the end of the calendar year to which they relate. These records shall be made available to representatives of the Federal Railroad Administration for inspection and copying during normal business hours. (d) Annual summary on operational tests and inspections. Before March 1 of each calendar year, each railroad to which this part applies, except for a railroad with less than 400,000 total manhours, shall retain, at each of its division headquarters and at the system headquarters of the railroad, one copy of a written summary of the following with respect to its previous year's activities: The number, type, and result of each operational test and inspection, stated according to operating divisions where applicable, that was conducted as required by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. These records shall be retained for three calendar years after the end of the calendar year to which they relate and shall be made available to representatives of the Federal Railroad Administration for inspection and copying during normal business hours. (e) Electronic recordkeeping. Each railroad to which this part applies is authorized to retain by electronic recordkeeping the information prescribed in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section, provided that all of the following conditions are met: (1) The railroad adequately limits and controls accessibility to such information retained in its electronic database system and identifies those individuals who have such access; (2) The railroad has a terminal at the system headquarters and at each division headquarters; (3) Each such terminal has a desk-top computer (i.e., monitor, central processing unit, and keyboard) and either a facsimile machine or a printer connected to the computer to retrieve and produce information in a usable format for immediate review by FRA representatives; (4) The railroad has a designated representative who is authorized to authenticate retrieved information from the electronic system as true and accurate copies of the electronically kept records; and (5) The railroad provides representatives of the Federal Railroad Administration with immediate access to these records for inspection and copying during normal business hours and provides printouts of such records upon request. [39 FR 41176, Nov. 25, 1974, as amended at 59 FR 43070, Aug. 22, 1994]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 217—RAILROAD OPERATING RULES
Subpart A—General
§ 217.9 Program of operational tests and inspections; recordkeeping.
