Circular No. 34/2012/TT-BGTVT stipulates the list and safety measures for dedicated powered vehicles on railway lines that are not required to have speed recording devices and related information on train operation (black box).

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the list and safety measures for specialized motive power vehicles

when operating on railway tracks that are not required to have speed recording devices

and related information concerning train operation (black box)

__________________________

Pursuant to the Railway Law dated June 14, 2005;

Pursuant to Decree No. 51/2008/NĐ-CP dated April 22, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

Pursuant to Decree No. 03/2012/NĐ-CP dated January 19, 2012 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 109/2006/NĐ-CP dated September 22, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Railway Law;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Vietnam Railways Administration and the Director of the Department of Traffic Safety;

The Minister of Transport hereby issues this Circular regulating the list and safety measures for specialized motive power vehicles when operating on railway tracks that are not required to have speed recording devices and related information concerning train operation (black box).

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular regulates the list and safety measures for specialized motive power railway vehicles that are not required to have speed recording devices and related information concerning train operation (black box) when operating on national railways and dedicated railways connected to national railways.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals using specialized motive power railway vehicles when operating on national railways and dedicated railways connected to national railways.

Chapter II

LIST AND SAFETY MEASURES FOR OPERATING SPECIALIZED MOTIVE POWER RAILWAY VEHICLES WITHOUT BLACK BOX REQUIREMENTS

Article 3. List of specialized motive power railway vehicles

1. Specialized motive power railway vehicles for rescue and accident response include:

a) Cranes with a gauge of 1000 mm;

b) Cranes with a gauge of 1435 mm.

2. Specialized motive power railway vehicles for inspection, construction, maintenance, and repair of railway works include:

a) Multi-purpose construction machines with gauges of 1000 mm and 1435 mm;

b) Track tamping machines with gauges of 1000 mm and 1435 mm;

c) Rail tie replacement machines with gauges of 1000 mm and 1435 mm;

d) Track lifting and tamping machines with gauges of 1000 mm and 1435 mm;

e) Multi-purpose lifting and lowering equipment with gauges of 1000 mm and 1435 mm.

3. Specialized motive power railway vehicles for security and defense purposes.

Article 4. Safety measures for operating specialized motive power railway vehicles for rescue and accident response

1. When moving outside the area where the accident occurred

a) Self-propulsion is not permitted;

b) They must be coupled into a train and attached to the locomotive.

2. When moving within the area where the accident occurred: Self-propulsion is permitted but must comply with the following measures:

a) Speed must not exceed 15 kilometers per hour and deceleration warnings must remain effective;

b) Strict adherence to regulations on rescue train operations and track gauge limits as stipulated in the National Technical Regulation on Railway Operation (QCVN 08:2011/BGTVT) and the National Technical Regulation on Train Operations and Railway Shunting Work (QCVN 07:2011/BGTVT) issued together with Circular No. 66/2011/TT-BGTVT dated December 28, 2011 of the Minister of Transport.

Article 5. Safety measures when operating specialized railway motive power vehicles for inspection, construction, maintenance, and repair of railway works

1. Permitted to self-propel to and from work sites within the track section; speed shall not exceed 30 kilometers per hour and deceleration warnings must remain effective.

2. When moving from the terminal station of the track section to the work site and vice versa:

a) Personnel must be assigned to guide the vehicle.

b) Strict adherence to the regulations on running construction trains as stipulated in the National Technical Regulations on Railway Operation (number QCVN 08:2011/BGTVT) and the National Technical Regulations on Running Trains and Railway Shunting Operations (number QCVN 07:2011/BGTVT) issued together with Circular No. 66/2011/TT-BGTVT dated December 28, 2011 of the Minister of Transport must be observed.

Article 6. Safety measures when operating specialized railway motive power vehicles for security and defense purposes

1. Movement on the railway shall comply with the provisions set forth in Article 5 of this Circular.

2. In special cases, the railway infrastructure management enterprise and the user of the vehicle must report to the Ministry of Transport (through the Department of Traffic Safety) to unify safety measures for each specific vehicle.

Article 7. Responsibilities of the user of specialized railway motive power vehicles

The user of specialized railway motive power vehicles shall base their operation and management measures on the technical standards of each specific vehicle, taking into account the characteristics of each rescue and accident handling location, inspection, construction, maintenance, and repair locations, and security and defense service locations, to ensure safe operations throughout the rescue, inspection, construction, maintenance, repair processes, and security and defense activities.

Chapter III IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 8. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from October 15, 2012.

Article 9. Implementation Organization

1. In case new equipment outside the list specified in Article 3 of this Circular arises or difficulties occur during implementation, timely reports must be made to Vietnam Railway Corporation for consolidation and reporting to the leadership of the Ministry of Transport for consideration and resolution.

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