Decision No. 69/2005/QD-BGTVT Issuing "Regulations on the Construction and Announcement of Speed Orders, Load Orders, and Train Running Diagrams on National Railways"

DECISION OF THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

ISSUING REGULATIONS ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF SPEED ORDERS, LOAD ORDERS, AND TRAIN SCHEDULES ON NATIONAL RAILWAYS

weight control order, train operation chart on the national railway

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION

Based on the Railway Law dated June 14, 2005;

Pursuant to Decree No. 34/2003/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

Pursuant to Decision No. 216/2003/QĐ-TTg dated October 27, 2003 of the Prime Minister on the Charter of Operations and Activities of Vietnam Railway Corporation;

Pursuant to Decision No. 1891/2003/QĐ-BGTVT dated July 1, 2003 of the Minister of Transport on the Functions, Tasks, Authorities, and Organizational Structure of the Vietnam Railways Administration;

Based on the proposal of the Director of the Vietnam Railways Administration and the Director of the Transport Department,

DECISION:

Article 1. ATTACHING HERETO REGULATIONS ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF SPEED ORDERS, LOAD ORDERS, AND TRAIN SCHEDULES ON NATIONAL RAILWAYS.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect from January 1, 2006.

Article 3. The Heads of the Office, the Inspectorate, the Directors of Departments, the Director of the Vietnam Railways Administration, the Chairman of the Board of Management and the General Director of Vietnam Railway Corporation, relevant organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.

 

REGULATIONS

REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF SPEED ORDERS,

LOAD ORDERS, AND TRAIN SCHEDULES ON NATIONAL RAILWAYS

(ISSUED TOGETHER WITH DECISION NO. 69 ON DECEMBER 9, 2005)

of the Ministry of Transport)

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of application

These regulations stipulate the construction and announcement of speed orders, load orders, and train schedules on national railways.

Article 2. Applicability

1. These regulations apply to organizations and individuals related to the construction and announcement of speed orders, load orders, and train schedules on national railways.

2. In cases where international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party provide different provisions from these regulations, the provisions of such treaties shall be applied.

Article 3. Definitions

In this Regulation, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY is the capacity of infrastructure to handle traffic, determined by factors axle load, uniform load; maximum train speed on a railway section; capacity of stations, and railway signaling system.

2. SPEED ORDER is the regulation setting the maximum permissible speed for rail transport vehicles on each bridge, section, zone, sub-zone, and railway line.

3. LOAD ORDER is the regulation setting the maximum permissible axle load and uniform load along the length of rail transport vehicles on each bridge, section, zone, sub-zone, and railway line.

4. TRAIN SCHEDULE is the basis for organizing train operations, established annually, periodically, and seasonally for each line and the entire railway network. The train schedule must reflect the number of train pairs, the utilization of locomotives and cars, operational stations, and the running time of trains within a day and night on a section, sub-zone, and railway line.

5. PASSENGER TRAIN RUNNING TIME is the running time of passenger trains from the departure station to the final destination, including both running time on the route and stopping time for overtaking, technical operations, and passenger and cargo handling.

6. TECHNICAL OPERATIONS are operations serving the safe running of trains and ensuring service quality.

Article 4. SUPERVISION BY THE STATE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY FOR RAILWAY ACTIVITIES

1. Supervision by the state management authority for railway activities aims to ensure that the construction and announcement of speed orders, load orders, and train schedules comply with these regulations and other relevant laws.

2. The state management authority for railway activities has the right to request railway business enterprises and related organizations to report and explain issues related to the construction, announcement, and implementation of speed orders, load orders, and train schedules; when violations are discovered, it has the right to require corrective measures and amendments.

3. The Vietnam Railways Administration, as an organization assisting the Minister of Transport in managing railway activities, is entrusted by the Minister to oversee the implementation of these regulations and is responsible for reporting the results of supervision to the Minister.

Chapter II

CONSTRUCTION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF

SPEED ORDERS, LOAD ORDERS

Article 5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF INFRASTRUCTURE RAILWAY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

1. Ensuring the stability of railway infrastructure within their management scope to meet safety requirements for train operation.

2. Annually preparing reports on the capacity of railway infrastructure and plans for maintenance and repair of railway infrastructure within their management scope. Reports are sent to Vietnam Railway Corporation and the Vietnam Railways Administration.

3. Being responsible for ensuring the announced train speed, axle load, and uniform load on each bridge, section, zone, sub-zone, and railway line within their management scope. under the management of the enterprise.

Article 6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

1. Organizing train operations according to the announced speed orders and load orders.

2. Providing information on transportation needs, vehicle and equipment capacity for the construction of speed orders, load orders, and investment plans for upgrading and maintaining railway infrastructure systems.

Article 7. RESPONSIBILITIES OF VIETNAM RAILWAY CORPORATION

1. Ensuring the stability of railway infrastructure to meet safety requirements for train operation on national railways.

2. Constructing and announcing speed orders and load orders on national railways.

3. Being responsible for the accuracy and feasibility of the announced speed orders and load orders.

Article 8. REQUIREMENTS FOR SPEED ORDERS AND LOAD ORDERS

1. Ensuring traffic safety, stable maximum train speed, axle load, and uniform load during the announcement period, and compatibility with the capacity of railway infrastructure.

2. Limiting the number of speed change points in a zone.

3. The length of each speed zone on a line must not be less than 800 meters (except for fixed slow points).

4. Axle load and uniform load specified for each type of locomotive, car, and train must be consistent within a sub-zone.

Article 9. BASIC CONTENT IN SPEED ORDERS AND LOAD ORDERS

1. The basic content in speed orders includes:

a) Train speed table:

- The maximum speed of trains from this mileage point to the next mileage point on railway lines;

- Points where speed changes are recorded with specific mileage and location of speed change;

- Slow running points, slow running speeds, mileage distance required for slow running, curve radius, name according to geographical location (if applicable);

b) Other relevant information about bridges, roads, locomotives, carriages, train formations to guide the implementation of speed orders;

2. The basic contents of load orders include:

a) Axle load;

b) Uniformly distributed load;

c) Types of locomotives permitted to run single or coupled on each bridge, section, interval, zone, railway line;

d) Other relevant information to guide the implementation of load orders;

Article 10. Procedures for establishing speed orders and load orders;

1. Vietnam Railway Corporation bases on annual reports of railway business enterprises as stipulated in Article 5 and Article 6 of this Regulation, reviews the accuracy of information on the capacity of railway infrastructure structures, technical characteristics of locomotives and carriages applied throughout the national railway network, drafts speed orders and load orders, sends them to railway business enterprises and related organizations for comments;

2. Within the latest 15 days from the date of receipt of draft speed orders and draft load orders, organizations provide written comments on the draft and send them to Vietnam Railway Corporation;

3. After receiving comments, Vietnam Railway Corporation is responsible for studying, adopting, completing speed orders and load orders and announcing them;

4. Speed orders and load orders are sent to state management agencies for railway operations, railway business enterprises, related organizations, and must be announced at stations ten days prior to the implementation date;

Article 11. Adjustment of speed orders and load orders;

1. During operation, if there are changes in the capacity of railway infrastructure structures, plans for applying railway transportation means that make the contents specified in speed orders and load orders no longer appropriate, railway business enterprises must report to Vietnam Railway Corporation;

2. Vietnam Railway Corporation bases on management and exploitation organization of railway infrastructure structures to decide on adjusting or rebuilding speed orders and load orders. Adjustments or rebuilding of speed orders and load orders must comply with the provisions of Article 8 of this Regulation;

Chapter III

BUILDING AND ANNOUNCING TRAIN SCHEDULES;

Article 12. RESPONSIBILITIES OF RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

1. Propose transport demand and organize train runs on railway lines and submit to Vietnam Railway Corporation;

2. Provide timely and complete necessary information to serve the construction and adjustment of train schedules as requested by Vietnam Railway Corporation;

3. Adhere to the regulations of train schedules;

Article 13. Types of trains organized to run on the national railway and priority order of train types;

1. Types of trains running on the national railway include:

a) Special trains are trains organized to run on an ad hoc basis to serve special purposes at the request of competent authorities, without scheduled routes in train schedules;

b) International passenger trains are trains pulling carriages or carriage units carrying international passengers;

c) Express passenger trains running through are passenger trains running continuously across lines, on one line or several sections, with the shortest travel time and the fewest stops for passenger boarding and alighting;

d) Express passenger trains running within sections are passenger trains with the shortest travel time and the fewest stops for passenger boarding and alighting within sections;

đ) Ordinary passenger trains are passenger trains running on one or several sections, one line or across lines, stopping at all stations or having the most stops for operational tasks;

e) Military trains, mixed trains, worker trains are ordinary passenger trains pulling additional three or more freight cars (or worker transport trains) with the most stops for operational tasks or stopping at all stations;

g) Express freight trains running through are freight trains running continuously on several sections, one line or across lines, with the shortest travel time and the fewest stops for operational tasks;

h) Sectional freight trains are freight trains running within a section including fast sectional freight trains, ordinary sectional freight trains, sectional freight trains with coupling and uncoupling operations within sections;

i) Short-haul freight trains, shuttle trains are freight trains running exclusively on a route or section with coupling and uncoupling operations along the way;

k) Special-purpose trains are trains using specialized equipment running on railways;

2. Priority order of train types;

When building train schedules, the following priority order must be followed for train types:

a) Special trains;

b) International passenger trains;

c) Express passenger trains running through;

d) Express passenger trains running within sections;

đ) Express freight trains running through;

e) Ordinary passenger trains;

g) Military trains, mixed trains, worker trains;

h) Sectional freight trains;

i) Short-haul freight trains, shuttle trains;

k) Special-purpose trains;

Article 14. Requirements when building train schedules;

When building train schedules, the following basic requirements must be met:

1. Ensuring absolute safety during train operation organization;

2. Meeting the requirements for passenger and cargo transportation;

3. Train density and speed corresponding to the capacity of railway infrastructure structures;

4. Efficient use of railway transportation means;

5. Reserving time intervals without train operation on some sections for construction, repair, and maintenance of railway infrastructure structures;

6. Ensuring the priority order for train types as prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 13 of this Regulation;

7. Facilitating command and control, ensuring a high punctuality rate for trains arriving on time;

8. Ensuring reasonable travel time and routes for trains on sections;

9. Providing sufficient time for trains to stop at stations to perform technical and passenger/cargo operational tasks as prescribed.

Article 15. Basic contents of the train operation diagram

The train operation diagram must reflect the following basic contents:

1. The total number of passenger trains and freight trains (including both regular and reserve trains) running on sections and routes within a day and night;

2. Stations where trains stop and the time spent for cargo operations, passenger services, and technical operations;

3. The running time of each train through each section;

4. The maximum gradient on each section and route;

5. Other necessary regulations related to guiding and implementing the train operation diagram.

Article 16. Train Numbers

1. Each train running according to the route in the train operation diagram must have a train number. The train number is determined based on the direction of the train's run and the nature of each type of train on specific routes.

2. Principles for assigning train numbers:

a) Trains running from Hanoi to other routes shall be assigned odd numbers, while trains running from other routes back to Hanoi shall be assigned even numbers;

b) Trains on specific routes must be assigned a unique set of numbers for each specific route and type of train;

c) Trains running on various routes must ensure that there are no duplicate numbers.

3. Vietnam Railway Corporation is responsible for establishing specific regulations regarding the method of assigning numbers to different types of trains on various routes, sections, and areas, ensuring compliance with the above principles and organizing their implementation.

Article 17. Procedure for Establishing the Train Operation Diagram

1. Transport requirements and organization of train runs on railway lines by railway transport businesses must be submitted to Vietnam Railway Corporation sixty days prior to the planned date of publication of the train operation diagram.

2. Based on reports from railway infrastructure business enterprises as stipulated in Article 5, requirements from railway transport business enterprises as stipulated in Article 12, and the content of load orders and speed orders prescribed in Article 9 of this Regulation, Vietnam Railway Corporation will draft the train operation diagram and send it to relevant railway business enterprises and organizations for comments forty days before the planned date of publication of the train operation diagram.

3. Within twenty days from receiving the draft train operation diagram, railway business enterprises and relevant organizations must provide written comments on the draft train operation diagram and submit them to Vietnam Railway Corporation.

4. After receiving comments from railway business enterprises and relevant organizations, Vietnam Railway Corporation is responsible for incorporating these comments, completing the train operation diagram, and publishing it. The train operation diagram will be published at stations, on mass media, and sent to railway business enterprises ten days before the planned implementation date.

5. In cases where there are differing opinions on the right to participate in organizing train runs among railway transport business enterprises and issues related to railway traffic safety, Vietnam Railway Corporation will lead negotiations to resolve disputes, with supervision by the state management agency for railway activities. If negotiations fail to reach a consensus agreement between the parties, a report must be made to the Ministry of Transport for resolution.

6. Vietnam Railway Corporation must provide relevant data serving as the basis for establishing the train operation diagram, such as speed orders, load orders, train weight; time for technical operations, passenger and cargo operations at stations; transportation needs and train organization of railway transport business enterprises to the Vietnam Railway Administration to fulfill supervisory tasks as prescribed in Clause 3 of Article 77 of the Railway Law.

Article 18. Adjustment of train operation schedules and additional trains

During the implementation of the train operation schedule, if it becomes necessary to run additional trains, change the train routes, or alter the operational stations of train units, thereby requiring adjustments to the train operation schedule, the Vietnam Railway Corporation is permitted to make such adjustments, but must ensure compliance with the provisions of Article 14 of this Regulation.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 19. Implementation

1. Responsibilities of the General Director of the Vietnam Railway Corporation

a) Shall be responsible to the Minister of Transport for directing, guiding, and inspecting railway business enterprises and subordinate units of the Vietnam Railway Corporation in implementing this Regulation.

b) Annually submit a report to the Minister of Transport on the following matters:

- Work on establishing, announcing, adjusting, and implementing speed orders, load orders, and train operation schedules in the past year;

- Plans for establishment and measures for implementation in the upcoming year;

- Difficulties and issues arising during implementation, along with recommendations for supplementation and amendment.

2. The Director of the Vietnam Railways Administration shall be responsible to the Minister of Transport for carrying out state management oversight of railway operations in the implementation of this Regulation./.