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78R6027 JTS-F
By: Barrientos S.B. No. 1795
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operation of remote control locomotives.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 11, Title 112, Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding Article 6448c to read as follows:
Art. 6448c. OPERATION OF REMOTE CONTROL LOCOMOTIVES. (a) A
railroad that proposes to operate a remote control locomotive in
this state shall:
(1) before beginning operation:
(A) file a report with the Railroad Commission of
Texas detailing the location and nature of the operation; and
(B) notify the governing body of each
municipality in which the remote control locomotive will be
operated;
(2) record and maintain appropriate risk exposure
measures, including total number of labor hours and total number of
employees by location for:
(A) remote control locomotive operations of the
railroad; and
(B) manual locomotive operations of the
railroad;
(3) continually solicit and consider input of the
individuals who operate remote control locomotives of the railroad
to ensure that ergonomic issues and operating concerns of those
individuals are properly identified and fully addressed;
(4) establish formal communication procedures to
enable appropriate railroad officials to receive and respond to
information pertaining to a remote control locomotive system
failure or safety problem;
(5) in each area where a remote control locomotive is
operated, post signs stating that an operator is not present in the
control compartment of the locomotive that are:
(A) highly visible;
(B) posted at conspicuous locations so as to
maximize the signs' exposure to those persons most likely to
encounter a remote control locomotive; and
(C) written in a language other than English
where appropriate; and
(6) equip each remote control locomotive operator with
a remote control transmitter capable of:
(A) automatically notifying the railroad if a
remote control locomotive operator becomes incapacitated; and
(B) determining a nonresponsive remote control
locomotive operator's location to ensure that emergency help can
respond effectively.
(b) A railroad that owns or controls a remote control
locomotive may not:
(1) operate a passenger train using a remote control
locomotive or allow a remote control locomotive to be operated on or
near a railroad track occupied or being used by a passenger train;
(2) allow:
(A) the operator of a remote control locomotive,
while operating that locomotive, to:
(i) ride on a freight car;
(ii) mount or dismount moving equipment;
(iii) operate another remote control
locomotive or any other type of machinery; or
(iv) stand or walk between the rails of the
railroad track or foul the track on which the locomotive is moving
while physically located in front of the moving locomotive;
(B) a remote control locomotive handling a
railcar containing hazardous material to cross a public road at
grade unless a person who has the required skills and training to
apply an emergency brake in the event of collision occupies the
operating compartment of the remote control locomotive; or
(C) a worker other than a member of the crew
assigned to the remote control locomotive to work on a remote
control locomotive or attached equipment, except for a worker
entering the operating compartment of the locomotive to supply,
inspect, or repair the locomotive, unless:
(i) the remote control locomotive is placed
in manual mode and properly secured; and
(ii) appropriate blue signal protection, as
defined by 49 C.F.R. Section 218.5, is provided; or
(3) allow a remote control locomotive to be operated:
(A) unless the operator of that locomotive
assures that the movement is protected and the railroad track is
clear and properly aligned ahead of that locomotive while it is
underway; or
(B) at a speed exceeding:
(i) a speed that would enable the
locomotive to stop within one-half the range of vision; or
(ii) 20 miles per hour.
(c) A railroad shall provide for the security of remote
control locomotives owned or controlled by the railroad. At a
minimum, the railroad must:
(1) require:
(A) each remote control locomotive operator,
when the operator goes off duty, to place the remote control
locomotive in manual operation mode and properly secure the remote
control locomotive, unless control of the remote control locomotive
is directly given to another remote control operator;
(B) each operation control handle in the remote
control locomotive operating compartment to be removed or pinned in
place to prevent accidental or intentional movement while the
remote control locomotive is being operated in remote control mode;
and
(C) each remote control locomotive to have a tag
placed on the control stand throttle indicating the locomotive is
being used in remote control mode and requiring the tag be removed
when the locomotive is returned to manual operation mode;
(2) issue instructions for the proper storing and
handling of a remote control transmitter when not in use or in the
possession of a remote control operator;
(3) implement strict procedures to ensure that only
the intended remote control transmitter is assigned to the
appropriate remote control locomotive; and
(4) equip each remote control locomotive with a device
to secure the operating compartment and its controls against
unauthorized entry.
(d) The Railroad Commission of Texas by rule shall enforce
the requirements of this article.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2004, the Railroad
Commission of Texas shall adopt rules relating to the operation of
remote control locomotives as required by Article 6448c, Revised
Statutes, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.