SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6660

BYSenators Conner, Patterson, Warnke, Hansen, von Reichbauer, McMullen, Bender, DeJarnatt, Owen, Zimmerman and Smith

Supplementing safety regulations for railroad track motor car equipment.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 5, 1988

Senate Staff:Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

AS OF FEBRUARY 5, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Railroad mainline trackage and some spur lines are equipped with an internal signalization system which allows railroads to track the location of trains operating on the system.  This signalization system allows railroads to control train speeds and on single line track to move trains to sidings in order to enable another train to pass.  Those systems also activate crossing signals.

Railroad maintenance and inspection type vehicles are equipped with devices (shunts) which insulate the flow of electric current between railroad tracks and thereby prevent the activation of railroad signals.  These types of vehicles are so equipped because of the large number of such vehicles operating on the track and the complexity of tracking both those type of vehicles and full trains.  Many of those vehicles are constructed so that they may simply be lifted off the track by railroad personnel or driven off under their own power (high-rail car).

Certain railroad personnel argue that the circumvention of the signalization system by these maintenance vehicles is hazardous to maintenance personnel.  By virtue of the circumvention, railroad traffic controllers are not able to track the location of those maintenance vehicles, relative to train operations.

SUMMARY:

After January 1, 1989 it is unlawful for any person or corporation operating a common carrier railroad within the state to operate or use any track motor car which is equipped with devices which insulate or otherwise circumvent the activation of railroad signals.  All track motor vehicles shall, after January 1, 1989, activate railroad signals which alert railroad personnel of the presence of those vehicles on the railroad tracks.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested