Circular No. 06/2019/TT-BGTVT stipulates criteria for supervising and accepting the results of maintenance of national railway infrastructure assets based on the quality of implementation and maintenance regimes and procedures of national railway infrastructure assets.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on criteria for monitoring and accepting the results of maintenance of national railway infrastructure assets based on the quality of implementation and maintenance systems and procedures

of national railway infrastructure assets

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Pursuant to the Railway Law No. 06/2017/QH14 dated June 26, 2017;

Pursuant to Decree No. 46/2018/NĐ-CP dated March 14, 2018 of the Government on the management, use, and operation of national railway infrastructure assets;

Pursuant to Decree No. 46/2015/NĐ-CP dated May 12, 2015 of the Government on management of construction project quality and maintenance;

Pursuant to Decree No. 12/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 10, 2017, issued by the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

At the proposal of the Director of the Infrastructure Structure Department and the Director General of the Vietnam Railway Administration;

The Minister of Transport hereby promulgates this Circular stipulating the criteria for monitoring and accepting the results of maintenance of national railway infrastructure assets based on the quality of implementation and maintenance systems and procedures for national railway infrastructure assets.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

Article 1. This Circular stipulates the criteria for monitoring and accepting the results of maintenance of national railway infrastructure assets based on the quality of implementation and maintenance systems and procedures for the maintenance activities of national railway infrastructure assets.

Article 2. This Circular does not apply to regular repair and emergency repair work on national railway infrastructure assets.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals, both domestic and foreign, related to the implementation of maintenance work, monitoring, and acceptance of the results of maintenance of national railway infrastructure assets based on the quality of implementation.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. The upper structure of the railway track includes: Rail, tie, rail-to-tie connection, rail-to-rail connection, switch (including connecting accessories), ballast.

2. The railway subgrade includes: Mainline subgrade, station subgrade, depot subgrade, cargo yard subgrade; side ditch, crown ditch, subgrade drainage ditch, fishplate ditch, underground drainage ditch.

3. Subgrade protection works include: Retaining wall, revetment, slope reinforcement, water barrier at the top of the slope.

4. Railway bridge includes: Bridge girder, bridge deck, bearing, expansion joint, abutment, pier, cone, wing wall, bridge protection works.

5. The bridge deck includes all or some parts depending on the type of bridge, including: Rail (including wheel guard rail, tie, ballast), rail-to-tie connection, rail-to-rail connection, spacing maintenance structure, anti-slip tie deck structure, tie deck-to-girder connection (for open-deck bridges), deck drainage system, walkway.

6. Bridge protection works include all or some parts depending on the type of bridge, including: Erosion control structures, collision prevention structures, flow direction revetments.

7. Railway culvert includes: Culvert body, culvert entrance, culvert exit, energy dissipating structures.

8. Railway underpass includes: Tunnel body, tunnel entrance, internal road within the tunnel, and tunnel ends.

9. Railway tunnel includes: Tunnel entrance, tunnel lining, tunnel shell, refuge alcove, lighting, ventilation, signage, tunnel drainage ditch, crown ditch.

10. Railway crossing includes: Railway tracks, roads within the crossing area; road safety system including: Railway tracks, roads within the crossing area; crossing safety system, crossing surveillance system. Depending on the type of road safety system, railway crossings may also include some or all of the following components: Crossing watchtower, lighting system at the crossing, marker posts, fixed fence, signage, passenger information system; signal cable connected from the traffic light control cabinet at the road crossing on the railway to the junction box or to the traffic light control cabinet at the road crossing.

11. Railway station architectural works include: Station building, waiting room, platform, platform canopy, platform access, train dispatching room, signaling equipment installation room, freight yard, cargo yard, station road, administrative office building at the station area (if any), crossing watchtower.

12. Other auxiliary works at the station include: Station square, approach road to the station, station fence, ventilation, lighting at the station, water supply and drainage system, fire prevention and explosion protection system, environmental sanitation assurance system, facilities for people with disabilities, passenger guidance information system, other commercial service facilities according to planning.

14. Railway communication system includes: Overhead communication lines, communication cables, communication equipment.

15. Railway signaling system includes: Station entry-exit signals, control equipment, control devices, power supply equipment, signaling cables, and other auxiliary equipment.

16. Depot works include: Inspection tunnel; repair and maintenance workshops, locomotive and car preparation facilities; power supply system; lighting, water supply and drainage system; fire prevention and explosion protection system, and environmental sanitation assurance system.

17. Auxiliary works related to railway traffic safety include: Fence separating railway and road; bypass road; warning signs.

18. Maintenance of railway infrastructure assets involves monitoring, care, and minor repairs of structures and installed equipment to maintain them in operational condition through regular and periodic activities, thereby limiting the occurrence of structural damage.

Chapter II

REQUIREMENTS ON QUALITY AND CRITERIA FOR MONITORING RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE ASSET MAINTENANCE WORK BASED ON IMPLEMENTATION QUALITY

Article 4. Requirements for management and maintenance work

1. Railway infrastructure assets shall carry out maintenance work according to the maintenance procedures for works and the pricing scheme for public utility products and services in the field of railway infrastructure maintenance approved by the Ministry of Transport. The works must ensure traffic safety and construction safety during operation and use.

2. Materials and supplies used in the maintenance of railway infrastructure assets must ensure the following:

a) Proper use of materials and supplies approved in the pricing scheme for public utility products and services in the field of national railway infrastructure maintenance;

b) Adequate quantity of materials and supplies installed, ensuring quality in accordance with technical requirements;

c) Compliance with legal provisions on product quality.

3. Maintenance of railway infrastructure assets must comply with technical standards, applicable standards, and legal regulations on quality management and maintenance of construction works.

4. Management of railway traffic safety zones must ensure railway traffic safety in accordance with legal provisions on railway safety zones.

Article 5. Technical and Quality Requirements for Maintenance Work

1. For Railways

a) Upper structure of railways: Regular and periodic monitoring, inspection, care, measurement of technical parameters, timely repair of damage, replacement of materials, components, and parts of the works; The upper structure of railways must be tightly connected, stable, ensuring safety during operation; The railway alignment must not deviate beyond permissible limits; The height of the top surface of the rails on straight sections must be equal. In curves, the difference in height between the tops of the outer and inner rails must be consistent with the specified superelevation values. In difficult cases, the difference in rail top height must not exceed permissible limits; The inside flange way distance between two rails must be appropriate for each type of track gauge and route profile. In difficult cases, the deviation of the inside flange way distance between two rails must ensure it does not exceed permissible limits; For railways with joints, the width of joint gaps must meet structural upper layer conditions as prescribed and ensure that thermal expansion of the rails does not affect the stability of the upper structure of the railway; Ballast shoulders and ballast must be arranged according to the diagram, dimensions must be appropriate for the specified types; Ballast must ensure safe train operation at corresponding speeds through ballast sections; Components of ballast must be installed according to the prescribed diagram; Ballast bed must be compacted according to regulations, ensuring size and quality, ensuring drainage; there should be no mud spouting, no weeds or impurities.

b) For railway subgrade: The width of the railway subgrade and the reaction platform must meet the specified dimensions and ensure good drainage. The railway subgrade must not have mud spouting or rock pockets; The slope of the railway subgrade and the reaction platform embankment must meet the specified slope, ensuring stability, without the risk of landslides, rolling rocks threatening train safety; Drainage ditches and water barriers must be maintained fully, correctly sized, ensuring good drainage and not being blocked or eroded during operation; Maintain drainage capacity suitable for the function of each type of ditch, ensuring subgrade stability.

c) The system of markers and signals on railways must be maintained fully, stably, firmly, in correct positions, and in accordance with specifications.

2. For Railway Bridges

a) The load-bearing structure of bridges must be in the correct design position, maintaining operation according to the load-bearing diagram of the structure;

b) The steel structure of bridges must be clean, rust-proof painted, coated, and free from water accumulation;

c) Reinforced concrete structures, concrete, and stone structures must ensure crack width within permissible limits and be regularly inspected and monitored; the surface must ensure good drainage;

d) The bridge deck must be maintained fully according to regulations. For bridges with pedestrian walkways or roads on both sides, the pedestrian walkway and road sections must be maintained fully, ensuring smoothness and safety for people and vehicles passing through;

đ) Bridge bearings and expansion joints must be in the correct position, clean, and ensure normal working conditions;

e) Abutments, piers, pier caps, and bridge protection works must be regularly inspected, monitored, and cared for according to the prescribed period; technical parameter measurements, minor repairs before and after typhoon and flood seasons;

g) For bridges requiring fire protection equipment, these devices must be maintained fully and ensure readiness for operation;

h) For railway bridges crossing navigable rivers, inland waterway signals must be complete, stable, firm, in correct positions, and in accordance with national technical standards for inland waterway signals;

i) For railway bridges crossing roads with restricted clear heights under the bridge, "Height Limit" signs must be complete, stable, firm, in correct positions, and in accordance with national technical standards for road signals.

3. Railway drainage culverts must ensure unobstructed flow; reinforced sections of the culvert apron and energy dissipators must ensure normal operation.

4. For Railway Underpasses

a) The load-bearing structure of railway underpasses must comply with the provisions set forth in point a, Clause 5 of this Article;

b) Road warning signs and danger signs before entering railway underpasses must always be maintained fully, in correct positions, and in accordance with national technical standards for road signals.

5. For Railway Tunnels

a) The load-bearing structure of tunnels must maintain operation according to the load-bearing diagram of the structure and be regularly inspected, monitored, and cared for according to the prescribed period; technical parameter measurements, minor repairs before and after typhoon and flood seasons;

b) Tunnel portal slopes must ensure stability, without the risk of landslides, rolling rocks threatening train safety;

c) For tunnels with refuge niches, they must always be kept clean, ventilated, and free from obstacles inside.

d) For tunnels equipped with lighting, ventilation, and fire protection systems, these systems must ensure normal operation in accordance with regulations;

đ) The position of the railway tracks within the tunnel must be regularly inspected, monitored, and measured to ensure technical parameters remain stable without violating the architectural clearance limits;

e) The drainage system inside and outside the tunnel, including the drainage ditches, must always be clean to ensure proper drainage for the tunnel and the railway tracks within it.

6. Regarding level crossings:

a) The sections of railway and road within the level crossing area must meet the corresponding technical requirements for railway and road within the level crossing area;

b) The level crossing protection system must be complete, correctly positioned, conforming to technical specifications, and functioning well;

c) For level crossings equipped with lighting systems, sufficient lighting must be ensured, meeting the average illumination and uniformity standards as prescribed;

d) Level crossing guard houses must comply with architectural construction requirements stipulated in Clause 7 of this Article;

đ) The information and signaling systems at level crossings must adhere to the provisions set forth in Clause 8 of this Article;

e) For level crossings connected to railway and road signals, the signal cable connections must be supplied from the traffic light control cabinet on the road at the level crossing to the connection box or to the traffic light control cabinet, ensuring stable and accurate operation of the entire signal connection system;

7. Regarding architectural structures:

a) The load-bearing structure of the building must comply with design specifications and maintain operation according to the structural load diagram;

b) Steel components of the building must be cleaned thoroughly, painted to prevent rust, and not retain water;

c) Reinforced concrete beams, walls, and other components must ensure good drainage and be subject to regular inspection and monitoring;

d) Wooden structures must meet size and quality standards, be treated with preservative paint as prescribed, and maintain aesthetic appearance;

đ) For buildings with roof structures, they must ensure good drainage, no cracks, and no leaks;

e) The foundation of the building must be stable and capable of bearing loads. The surface must be flat, free from bumps, peeling, cracking, and water accumulation;

g) Water supply and drainage systems, as well as environmental sanitation facilities, must operate effectively and not become blocked or stagnant;

h) Lightning protection systems, electrical power supply, and lighting systems must be complete, operational, and safe;

i) Ventilation, fire prevention and extinguishing, escape routes, and emergency telephones must be complete, of high quality, and safe;

k) For buildings requiring guidance information systems, such systems must be complete, clear, and convenient for users as prescribed;

8. Regarding communication and signaling structures:

a) Structures and equipment must function properly, without warnings or obstructions, and errors within permissible limits;

b) Components and parts of the structures must be fully installed, of correct types, conforming to specifications and technical instructions (if applicable), and promptly replaced when losses or damages occur;

c) Structures must be regularly inspected, kept clean, and monitored to ensure accurate and reliable operation, with technical parameters within permissible limits as prescribed;

d) Structures and their components must be clearly marked or numbered for tracking, management, and maintenance purposes;

đ) Metal components that require painting must be coated to prevent rust;

e) Signals must display clearly and accurately, ensuring visibility as prescribed;

g) Information and signal poles must be of correct dimensions, structurally sound, and safe relative to adjacent structures;

h) Railway communication and signaling systems must be used for their intended purposes and functions, providing uninterrupted communication for train operations, ensuring safety of structures and rail traffic;

9. Regarding depot structures:

a) Machine inspection tunnels must be complete and functioning well to serve machine inspection and repair operations;

b) For depots equipped with turntables, the turntables must function well to serve locomotive turning operations;

c) Other depot structures such as railway tracks, repair and maintenance workshops, locomotive and car preparation facilities, electrical power systems, lighting, drainage, fire prevention and extinguishing systems, environmental sanitation systems, and communication and signaling systems must comply with the provisions of Clauses 1, 2, 7, and 8 of this Article;

10. Regarding auxiliary structures related to rail traffic safety:

a) Barriers separating railway and road areas must be complete, correctly positioned, clean, undamaged, and corrosion-resistant, with all bolts securely tightened and the base of the posts protected against erosion;

b) Warning signs at dangerous locations for rail traffic safety must be complete, correctly positioned, secure, and visible both day and night.

Article 6. Requirements for Supervision of Management and Maintenance Work

1. The supervision of management and maintenance work of national railway infrastructure assets based on the quality of implementation (hereinafter referred to as supervision of maintenance work) includes monitoring the establishment, signing, implementation of contracts, and acceptance of management and maintenance results according to signed contracts.

2. The supervision of management and maintenance work must be continuous, periodic, and sudden throughout the implementation period until the completion acceptance is finished. The supervision is carried out through visual inspection, regular measurement data (if available) or specialized testing equipment when necessary.

3. The supervision of management and maintenance work must follow the maintenance procedures, pricing plans for public utility products and services in the field of railway infrastructure maintenance approved by the Ministry of Transport, applicable standards, technical regulations, regulations on the management and use of construction materials, technical guidelines (if any), signed contracts, and other relevant regulations on project quality management.

4. Direct maintenance units must have a quality management system for maintenance in accordance with current regulations.

Article 7. Criteria for Supervision of Management and Maintenance Work

1. Supervision of the quality of management and maintenance work implementation

a) Compliance with maintenance procedures, pricing plans for public utility products and services in the field of railway infrastructure maintenance approved by the Ministry of Transport, applicable standards, technical regulations, regulations on the management and use of construction materials, technical guidelines (if any), and other relevant regulations on project quality management;

b) The quality of projects after maintenance must meet the requirements stipulated in the approved maintenance procedures, technical regulations, and applicable standards.

2. Supervision of the correct, complete, and strict execution of maintenance operation activities according to the approved maintenance procedures.

3. Supervision of the progress of maintenance work according to the contract.

4. Supervision of compliance with legal provisions on ensuring safety during maintenance implementation.

Chapter III

PROVISIONS ON ACCEPTANCE OF MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE RESULTS OF NATIONAL RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS BASED ON QUALITY IMPLEMENTATION

Article 8. Provisions on Acceptance for Management and Maintenance Work

1. Internal work inspection and acceptance include:

a) Work on establishing, updating, and storing management and maintenance records of railway infrastructure according to legal regulations;

b) Records of monitoring, inspecting, maintaining, measuring technical parameters, repairing minor damages, and servicing components, equipment, and parts of railway infrastructure regularly and periodically according to the legal regulations on the management and maintenance of national railway infrastructure;

c) Records of monitoring dangerous locations affecting rail traffic safety, management records of level crossings according to legal regulations on the management and maintenance of national railway infrastructure and level crossings;

d) Regular and sudden reports as prescribed.

2. On-site inspection and acceptance of projects according to Article 5 and Appendices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this Circular.

Article 9. Acceptance Criteria for Management and Maintenance Work

1. Acceptance of compliance with maintenance procedures, pricing plans for public utility products and services in the field of railway infrastructure maintenance approved by the Ministry of Transport, applicable standards, technical regulations, regulations on the management and use of construction materials, technical guidelines (if any), and other relevant regulations on project quality management.

2. The quality of projects after maintenance must meet the technical requirements stipulated in Article 5 of this Circular.

3. Implementation of work on establishing, updating, and storing management records of national railway infrastructure assets; records of regular and periodic monitoring and inspection; records of monitoring locations affecting rail traffic safety to update into the common management and monitoring system of railway infrastructure according to regulations.

4. Acceptance result evaluation criteria:

a) The quality of national railway infrastructure assets after maintenance is evaluated at two levels, "meeting requirements" and "not meeting requirements";

b) A project is considered "meeting requirements" when the work on establishing, updating, and storing management records is evaluated as "meeting requirements" and all items of work inspected and accepted initially or after re-inspection and acceptance are evaluated as "meeting requirements";

c) A project is considered "not meeting requirements" when the work on establishing, updating, and storing management records is evaluated as "not meeting requirements" or there is one or more items of work inspected and accepted initially and after re-inspection and acceptance are evaluated as "not meeting requirements";

d) Content and methods of evaluating the quality of implementation of management and maintenance work of railway infrastructure assets according to Appendices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this Circular.

Article 10. Handling for items of work assessed as "not meeting requirements" during inspection and acceptance

1. For items of work assessed as "not meeting requirements," within five days, the maintenance unit must repair the errors to be re-inspected, accepted, and reassessed. Specifically, for main tasks including: distance, leveling, height difference, direction, rail tie fastening, connecting parts, information, safety signals, if assessed as "not meeting requirements," within one day, the maintenance unit must repair the errors to be re-inspected, accepted, and reassessed.

2. After re-inspection and acceptance of items of work that were previously assessed as "not meeting requirements" and still assessed as "not meeting requirements," the project will be assessed as "not meeting requirements."

3. The inspection and acceptance of items of work shall be conducted a maximum of two times. If there are still items of work assessed as "not meeting requirements" after two inspections, the project will be assessed as "not meeting requirements" and the maintenance unit must perform maintenance again.

4. For items of work assessed as "not meeting requirements," the maintenance unit must ensure train operation safety; simultaneously repair the errors immediately and bear responsibility for the quality of the infrastructure asset maintenance performed by the unit.

Article 11. Provisions on supervision, acceptance of inspection results, monitoring, and quality testing of railway infrastructure assets

Supervision and acceptance of inspection results, monitoring, and quality testing of railway infrastructure assets shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of laws on quality management and maintenance of construction works and other relevant laws.

Chapter IV

REGULATIONS ON MAINTENANCE SYSTEM AND PROCEDURES FOR NATIONAL RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS

Article 12. Maintenance System

Railway infrastructure assets shall be maintained according to the following system:

1. Inspection of works must be conducted regularly, periodically, unexpectedly, specially, and other inspection activities; the content, time, and responsibility for inspection shall be carried out according to the maintenance procedures approved by the Ministry of Transport.

2. Monitoring of works shall be carried out when abnormal signs of structural works capable of causing accidents and the regulations on maintenance of construction works are detected.

3. Quality testing of works shall be conducted periodically according to the maintenance procedures approved by the Ministry of Transport and the regulations on maintenance of construction works.

4. Works maintenance shall be carried out according to:

a) National railway infrastructure maintenance plan approved by the Ministry of Transport;

b) Railway infrastructure maintenance procedures approved by the Ministry of Transport;

c) Pricing scheme for public service products and services in the field of railway infrastructure maintenance approved by the Ministry of Transport;

d) Regulations on maintenance of construction works.

Article 13. Maintenance Procedures

1. All railway infrastructure assets during exploitation and use must be maintained according to the maintenance procedures approved by the Ministry of Transport.

2. In cases where parts of works, items of works have not yet had maintenance procedures or the applied maintenance procedures are no longer suitable, the unit responsible for managing the assets must organize the adjustment and supplementation of the maintenance procedures and submit them to the Ministry of Transport for approval to implement.

3. Content of maintenance procedures; responsibilities for establishing, approving maintenance procedures, adjusting maintenance procedures for works shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of laws on quality management and maintenance of construction works.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 14. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from April 1, 2019.

Article 15. Implementation Organization

1. The Director of the Ministry's Office, the Inspector General of the Ministry, the Heads of Departments, the Director of the Vietnam Railway Administration, the Heads of agencies, units, organizations, and individuals concerned are responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. During implementation, if issues arise, organizations and individuals should promptly report them to the Ministry of Transport for review and resolution./.