49 CFR 213.55 - Track alinement.

Regulations last checked for updates: Oct 18, 2024

Title 49 - Transportation last revised: Oct 15, 2024

View all text of Subpart C [§ 213.51 - § 213.65]

§ 213.55 - Track alinement.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, alinement may not deviate from uniformity more than the amount prescribed in the following table:

Class of track	Tangent track	Curved track
Class of track	The deviation of the mid-offset from a 62-foot line ¹ may not be more than—(inches)	The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 31-foot chord ² may not be more than—(inches)	The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 62-foot chord ² may not be more than—(inches)
Class 1 track	5	³ N/A	5
Class 2 track	3	³ N/A	3
Class 3 track	1 3/4	1 1/4	1 3/4
Class 4 track	1 1/2	1	1 1/2
Class 5 track	3/4	1/2	5/8

¹ The ends of the line shall be at points on the gage side of the line rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the railhead. Either rail may be used as the line rail; however, the same rail shall be used for the full length of that tangential segment of the track.

² The ends of the chord shall be at points on the gage side of the outer rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the railhead.

³ N/A—Not Applicable

(b) For operations at a qualified cant deficiency, Eu, of more than 5 inches, the alinement of the outside rail of the curve may not deviate from uniformity more than the amount prescribed in the following table:

Class of track	Curved track
Class of track	The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 31-foot chord ¹ may not be more than—(inches)	The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 62-foot chord ¹ may not be more than—(inches)
Class 1 track ²	³ N/A	1 1/4
Class 2 track ²	³ N/A	1 1/4
Class 3 track	3/4	1 1/4
Class 4 track	3/4	7/8
Class 5 track	1/2	5/8

¹ The ends of the chord shall be at points on the gage side of the outer rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the railhead.

² Restraining rails or other systems may be required for derailment prevention.

³ N/A—Not Applicable

[78 FR 16100, Mar. 13, 2013]

authority: 49 U.S.C. 20102-20114 and 20142; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89

source: 63 FR 34029, June 22, 1998, unless otherwise noted.

cite as: 49 CFR 213.55