Code of Massachusetts Regulations
220 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
Title 220 CMR 151.00 - Rail Fixed Guideway System: System Safety Program Standard
Section 151.12 - Track Maintenance

Universal Citation: 220 MA Code of Regs 220.151

Current through Register 1537, December 20, 2024

(1) Unless otherwise structurally supported, all track must be supported by ballast material which will:

(a) Transmit and distribute the load of the track and railroad rolling equipment to the subgrade;

(b) Restrain the track laterally, longitudinally, and vertically under dynamic loads imposed by railroad rolling equipment and thermal stress exerted by the rails;

(c) Provide adequate drainage for the track;

(d) Maintain proper track crosslevel, surface, and alignment.

(2) Crossties shall be made of a material to which rail can be securely fastened.

(a) Each 39-foot segment of track shall have a sufficient number of crossties which in combination provide effective support that will maintain gage, surface, and alignment.

(b) The minimum number and type of crossties specified in 220 CMR 151.12(3) effectively distributed to support the entire segment; and at least one crosstie of the type specified in 220 CMR 151.12(3) that is located at a joint location.

(3) Each 39-foot segment of track shall have the minimum number and type of crossties as indicated in the following table:

MAXIMUM TRACK SPEED

MINIMUM NUMBER OF TIES

Tangent Track*

Curved Track**

15 miles per hour

5

6

25 miles per hour

8

9

60 miles per hour

8

10

* Track that is straight or has a radius curve greater than 1000 feet.

** Track having a radius curve measuring less than 1000 feet.

Crossties required shall be of the type which are not:

(a) Broken through;

(b) Split or otherwise impaired to the extent the crossties will allow the ballast to work through, or will not hold spikes or rail fasteners;

(c) So deteriorated that the tie plate or base of rail can move laterally two inches relative to the crossties; or

(d) Cut by the tie plate (or rail base) through more than 15% (nominally 1-1/8") of a tie's thickness;

(e) For track constructed without crossties, such as slab track, track connected directly to bridge structural components and track over servicing pits, the track structure must meet the requirements of 220 CMR 151.12(3) in regards to gage restraint, rail support, surface and alignment.

(4) Gage is measured between the heads of the rails at right-angles to the rails in a plane e of an inch below the top of the rail head.

(5) Gage must be within the limits prescribed in the following table:

MAXIMUM TRACK SPEED

MINIMUM TRACK GAGE

MAXIMUM TRACK GAGE

10 miles per hour

56"

58"

60 miles per hour

56"

573/4"

(6) Each rail joint, insulated joint, and compromise joint must be of the proper design and dimensions for the rail on which it is applied.

(7) If a joint bar is cracked, broken, or because of wear allows excessive vertical movement of either rail when all the bolts are tight, it must be replaced.

(8) If a joint bar is cracked or broken between the middle two bolt holes it must be replaced.

(9) In the case of conventional jointed rail in passenger-service track, each rail must be bolted with at least two bolts at each joint. Yard and storage track joints must be bolted with at least one bolt on each rail.

(10) In the case of continuous welded rail (CWR) track, each rail must be bolted with at least two bolts at each joint used to connect CWR strings or to connect CWR to conventional rail.

(11) Each joint bar must be held in position by track bolts tightened to allow the joint bar to firmly support the abutting rail ends and to allow longitudinal movement of the rail in the joint to accommodate expansion and contraction due to temperature variations.

(12) When any condition in 220 CMR 151.12(9) and (10) is not satisfied, an operating restriction must be put in place immediately until the condition is satisfied. The Transportation Authority shall notify the Program Manager of the imposition or removal of an operating restriction within 48 hours of said action.

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