Circular No. 28/2018/TT-BGTVT stipulates the connection of traffic lights on roads with warning signals on roads at level crossings and provides information to support vigilance at intersections between roads and railways.

CIRCULAR
Regulations on connecting traffic lights on roads with warning signals on roads at level crossings, providing support information for vigilance at intersections between roads and railways
effective on railway crossings, providing support information for warning at
intersections between roadways and railways

__________________

At the proposal of the Director of the Personnel Organization Department and the Director of the Vietnam Registration Bureau;

Pursuant to the Road Traffic Law No. 23/2008/QH12 dated November 13, 2008;

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

pursuant to the proposal of the Director of the Department of Transport Infrastructure and the Director of the Vietnam Railway Administration,

The Minister of Transport issues this Circular regulating the connection of traffic lights on roads with warning signals on roads at level crossings and providing support information for vigilance at intersections between roads and railways where there are railway guards.June 2024;1. This Circular regulates the connection of traffic lights on roads with warning signals on roads at level crossings (hereinafter referred to as signal connection) and the provision of support information for vigilance at intersections between roads and railways where there are railway guards on national railways and dedicated railways.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

2. This Circular does not apply to cases where level crossings meet the conditions for signal connection as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular but the signal connection causes traffic congestion in the area of the level crossing and the area of the road intersection leading to the level crossing.

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals involved in the construction, management, operation, maintenance of road traffic lights, warning signals on roads at level crossings that are connected to each other, and those related to the provision of support information for vigilance at intersections between roads and railways where there are railway guards on national railways and dedicated railways.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals involved in construction, management, operation, maintenance of road traffic signal works, traffic lights on roadways at railway crossings that are interconnected and related to providing support information for warning at intersections between roadways and railways with railway guards on national railways and dedicated railways.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

Providing support information for vigilance at intersections between roads and railways means providing information from railway infrastructure business enterprises and owners of dedicated railways within their management scope to the guards to perform their duties at the required vigilance points.

Warning signals on roads at level crossings are types of road warning signals placed within the level crossing area to control pedestrians and vehicles passing through the level crossing.

Signal connection refers to the technical linking between the system of road traffic lights and the system of warning signals on roads at level crossings to ensure consistent and synchronized display of signals.

Guard refers to an individual directly assigned to perform vigilance duties at the vigilance point.

Guard house is a constructed building with a roof and walls for guards to work in and install equipment necessary for vigilance.

Equipment for vigilance includes essential equipment needed for guards to perform their duties at the required vigilance points, including: telephone (wired, mobile), signal lights, horn, flag, signboard, flare, tape, logbook of train schedules, and other equipment for the required vigilance points.

Chapter II
CONNECTION OF ROAD TRAFFIC LIGHTS WITH WARNING SIGNALS ON ROADS AT LEVEL CROSSINGS
TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON ROADWAYS AT RAILWAY CROSSINGS

Article 4. Conditions and Principles for Connecting Signals

1. The conditions for connecting signals shall be implemented at road intersections with branch roads entering level crossings, where the distance from the center of the road intersection to the nearest stop line on the road at the level crossing is regulated as follows:

a) For roads of class IV and below intersecting at grade with railway tracks: not exceeding 75 meters;

b) For existing level crossings where roads of class III and above intersect at grade with railway tracks but have not yet been able to implement grade-separated intersections according to the Railway Law: not exceeding the stopping sight distance corresponding to the design speed of that road class.

2. Principles for connecting signals:

a) Not affecting the normal operation of traffic signal systems on roads and warning lights on roads at level crossings;

b) Priority belongs to the warning lights on roads at level crossings;

c) Ensuring that traffic signals on roads and warning lights on roads at level crossings are consistent and synchronized when trains pass through level crossings;

d) Signal connections must be carried out according to technical standards and regulations for railway and road signals, and related legal documents; while minimizing traffic congestion in areas around level crossings and road intersections with branch roads entering level crossings.

Article 5. Technical Requirements for Connecting Signals

1. Warning lights on roads at level crossings must be supplied to the traffic signal control cabinet or to the connection box (if any) to ensure the entire signal connection system operates stably and accurately.

2. The connection location (if any) must facilitate signal connections, maintenance, replacement, and minimize environmental impacts.

3. When the warning light on the road at the level crossing indicates stop, the traffic signal at the intersection must also indicate stop simultaneously so that all road vehicles departing from the intersection are not allowed to enter the branch road through the level crossing.

4. When the warning light on the road at the level crossing turns off, the traffic signal must automatically return to its normal operation according to current road signaling regulations.

Article 6. Management Files for Signal Connections

1. Each signal connection point must establish a management file. The files must be regularly stored and recorded uniformly according to prescribed forms.

2. The management files for signal connections include:

a) Completion files for signal connection works;

b) Historical records of level crossings with signal connections;

c) Inspection files for periodic and unscheduled operations of the signal connection system.

Chapter III
PROVIDING AND RECEIVING SUPPORT INFORMATION FOR WARNING AT INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN ROADS AND RAILWAYS
INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN ROADWAYS AND RAILWAYS

Article 7. Principles for Providing and Receiving Support Information for Warning

1. Railway infrastructure business enterprises provide support information for warning to organizations and individuals mentioned in Clause 3 of this Article to perform tasks at road-rail intersections on national railways requiring warning.

2. Owners of dedicated railways provide support information for warning to organizations and individuals mentioned in Clause 3 of this Article to perform tasks at road-rail intersections on dedicated railways requiring warning.

3. Local authorities where railways pass through, according to the delegation of provincial People's Committees, and organizations and individuals responsible for guarding at level crossings and unauthorized pedestrian crossings requiring warning must receive support information for warning from the organizations and individuals specified in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article.

Article 8. Content of Information Provided for Warning Support

1. Information for warning support must be maintained and provided, received regularly and continuously on a daily basis or at any time (if necessary).

2. The content of information provided for warning support includes the time schedule of trains passing through the warning position and other relevant information (if any) to serve the warning support work.

3. All information for warning support must be fully and promptly provided and received to fulfill the warning duty.

Article 9. Forms of Providing Information for Warning Support

1. Information for warning support must be directly provided or transmitted via warning telephones by organizations and individuals specified in Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 7, ensuring speed and accuracy, and must be confirmed and recorded in the train schedule book by the organization or individual assigned with the warning task, which has been guided.

2. When there is a warning house at the warning position, warning equipment is installed at the warning house.

3. When there is no warning house at the warning position, warning equipment is placed at the location designated by the organization assigned with the warning task.

4. In all cases, the location for placing warning equipment must ensure convenience for installation and safety of the equipment, and ease of access for the warning personnel to receive information.

Chapter IV
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND
EXPENSES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Article 10. Local authorities where railway passes through according to the classification and authorization of the provincial People's Committee

a) Inspect and determine positions that need signal connection and positions that need to provide warning support information, propose to the provincial People's Committee to organize implementation;

b) Summarize and evaluate the results of implementing the work of signal connection and receiving warning support information at warning positions within their management area.

2. Provide a list of organizations and individuals assigned to perform warning duties and receive warning support information to the organizations and individuals specified in Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 7 of this Circular.

3. Lead the inspection of the reception of warning support information by organizations and individuals assigned to perform warning duties at unauthorized crossings.

4. Organize the protection of warning equipment for warning positions within their management scope.

5. Compile and store management files of warning positions with warning support information within their management scope.

Article 11. National infrastructure business enterprises, owners of dedicated railways

1. Regarding signal connection:

a) Construct and install cable connections from traffic lights control cabinets on roads at railway crossings within their management, exploitation, and usage range to the signal connection box (if applicable) or to the traffic light control cabinet;

b) Coordinate with traffic light management agencies to implement signal connection; agree on signal connection according to Appendix I of this Circular;

c) Ensure that traffic lights on roads at railway crossings operate according to technical requirements and regulations stipulated in Article 4 of this Circular;

d) Immediately report and coordinate with traffic management forces when traffic lights on roads at railway crossings under their management malfunction, affecting signal connection, to ensure safe passage through railway crossings and minimize traffic congestion;

đ) Develop and issue maintenance procedures for signal connection systems within their management scope, ensuring equipment operates according to technical requirements and regulations stipulated in this Circular;

e) Prepare plans for construction and maintenance of signal connection facilities within their management scope for approval by competent authorities according to regulations;

g) Compile and store signal connection records within their management scope.

2. Regarding provision of warning support information:

a) Provide warning support information and install warning equipment according to this Circular;

b) Guide and train staff on railway traffic safety; instruct skills in receiving information and using warning support equipment for warning personnel;

c) Post related information of warning personnel (name, phone number, address) and warning times at the nearest station control room near the warning support information provision site;

d) Prepare plans for construction, provision, and maintenance of warning equipment within their management scope for approval by competent authorities according to regulations;

đ) Annually or at any time, review and provide specific lists of names, addresses, contact phone numbers of organizations assigned to provide warning support information to local authorities where railway passes through according to the classification and authorization of the provincial People's Committee.

Article 12. Organizations entrusted with managing traffic signal lights on road intersections

1. Take the lead and coordinate with national railway infrastructure businesses or owners of dedicated railways to install, inspect, and put into operation the cable connecting traffic signals from the traffic light control cabinet on roads to the connection box (if there is a connection box), implement and connect signals in accordance with Appendix I of this Circular.

2. Take the lead in ensuring the operation of traffic signals at road intersections in accordance with the state of the traffic lights on the road when trains pass through level crossings.

3. Develop plans for organizing road traffic in compliance with Article 4 of this Circular.

4. Immediately report and coordinate with competent authorities to manage traffic, ensure traffic safety, and minimize traffic congestion when traffic signal lights on roads are damaged and affect signal connections.

5. Establish, issue, and implement inspection and maintenance regimes for the signal connection system under their management to ensure that equipment operates according to technical requirements and the provisions of this Circular.

6. Develop plans for constructing, managing, and maintaining signal connection systems within their jurisdiction and submit them to the competent authority for approval in accordance with regulations.

7. Compile and store records of signal connections under their management.

Article 13. Organizations and individuals entrusted with lookout duties

1. Provide information related to lookouts (name, phone number, address) to railway infrastructure businesses, owners of dedicated railways, and local authorities where railways pass through, as authorized by the provincial People's Committee, to cooperate in performing lookout duties.

2. Coordinate with railway infrastructure businesses, owners of dedicated railways, and local authorities where railways pass through, as authorized by the provincial People's Committee, to receive support information for lookouts to be guided and trained in railway traffic safety, skills in receiving support information for lookouts, and using lookout equipment.

3. Manage and use equipment for lookout services at lookout points in accordance with regulations.

4. Implement the agreement on providing support information for lookouts as stipulated in Appendix II of this Circular.

5. Promptly notify railway infrastructure businesses, owners of dedicated railways, and local authorities where railways pass through, as authorized by the provincial People's Committee, about incidents and damage to equipment for lookout services at lookout points.

Article 14. Implementation Costs

1. The project investor responsible for building new level crossings or road intersections with railways shall bear the cost of implementing signal connections.

2. For the implementation of signal connections and provision/installation of equipment for lookout services at lookout positions on national railways:

a) Railway infrastructure businesses shall be responsible for costs from the State budget or other lawful revenues as prescribed by law to install cables for signal connections from the traffic light control cabinet at level crossings to the connection box (if there is a connection box) or to the traffic light control cabinet on roads (if there is no connection box) and provide and install equipment for lookout services at lookout positions.

b) Owners, managers, and users of road traffic signal systems shall be responsible for costs as prescribed by law to install cables for signal connections from the traffic light control cabinet on roads to the connection box (if there is a connection box) and connect road traffic signal lights with traffic lights on roads at level crossings.

3. For the implementation of signal connections and provision/installation of equipment for lookout services at lookout positions on dedicated railways:

a) Owners of dedicated railways shall be responsible for costs to install cables for signal connections from the traffic light control cabinet at level crossings to the connection box (if there is a connection box) or to the traffic light control cabinet on roads (if there is no connection box) and provide and install equipment for lookout services at lookout positions.

b) Owners, managers, and users of road traffic signal systems shall be responsible for costs as prescribed by law to install cables for signal connections from the traffic light control cabinet on roads to the connection box (if there is a connection box) and connect road traffic signal lights with traffic lights on roads at level crossings.

Chapter V
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 15. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2018.

2. Circular No. 08/2014/TT-BGTVT dated April 15, 2014, issued by the Minister of Transport, concerning the connection of road traffic signal lights with traffic lights on roads at level crossings; providing support information for lookouts at intersection points between roads and railways, becomes invalid from the date this Circular takes effect.

Article 16. Implementation Organization

The Director of the Ministry’s Office, the Inspector General of the Ministry, Heads of Departments, the Director-General of the Vietnam Highway Administration, the Director of the Vietnam Railway Administration; Directors of Transportation Departments of provinces and centrally governed cities where railways pass through; Heads of agencies, organizations, and individuals concerned are responsible for enforcing this Circular./.