(a) (1) A railroad corporation shall place appropriate signage to notify an engineer of an approaching grade crossing, consistent with federal law.
(2) Whistle post signs shall be deemed to satisfy this requirement.
(b) (1) Whenever a railroad issues written or verbal instructions to employees that may restrict or stop train movements because of track conditions, structures, persons, or equipment working, appropriate flags that are readily visible and easily recognizable to the crews on both passenger and freight trains shall be displayed as quickly as practicable. Yellow flags shall be used for temporary speed restrictions, consistent with paragraphs (2) and (3). Yellow-red flags shall be used, consistent with paragraphs (4) and (5), when a train may be required to stop.
(2) Yellow flags shall be used to warn trains to restrict movement because of track conditions or structures. Except as provided in paragraph (3), a yellow flag shall be displayed two miles before the restricted area in order to ensure that train movement is restricted at the proper location.
(3) When the restricted area is close to a terminal, junction, or another area, the yellow flag may be displayed less than two miles before the restricted area. This information shall be included in the written instructions to employees issued pursuant to paragraph (1).
(4) Yellow-red flags shall be used to warn trains to be prepared to stop because of persons or equipment working. A yellow-red flag shall be displayed two miles before the restricted area in order to ensure that the train is prepared to stop at the proper location.
(5) When the restricted area is close to a terminal, junction, or other area, the yellow-red flag may be displayed less than two miles before the restricted area. This information shall be included in the written instructions to employees issued pursuant to paragraph (1).
(6) Flags shall be displayed only on the track affected and shall be displayed to the right side of the track as viewed from the approaching train. The flags shall be displayed to protect all possible access to the restricted area.
(c) A railroad corporation shall provide milepost markers to train crews at accurate one-mile intervals. The markers shall be readily visible to the locomotive engineer within the locomotive cab, and shall be kept in good repair and replaced when necessary.
(d) A railroad corporation shall place whistle signs to the right of the main track in the direction of approach, exactly one-quarter mile from the entrance to any grade crossing as a point of reference for locomotive engineers who blow the whistle and ring the bell for these grade crossings as a warning to the public. The signs, which shall consist of an “X” or “W” or other identifiable mark or symbol on a square plate mounted on a post, shall be readily visible to a locomotive engineer within the locomotive cab, shall be kept in good repair, and shall be replaced when necessary.
(e) A railroad corporation shall place permanent speed signs to the right of the track in the direction of approach, two miles in advance of the point where the speed is either increased or decreased for both passenger and freight trains. The signs shall be readily visible to a locomotive engineer within the locomotive cab, shall be kept in good repair, and shall be replaced when necessary.
(f) A railroad corporation shall notify the commission and the collective bargaining representative of any affected employee of any new utilization of remote control locomotives in the state, on or after January 1, 2007.
(g) A railroad corporation shall provide immediate notification to the Office of Emergency Services of accidents, incidents, and other events, concurrent with those provided to the Federal Railroad Administration’s National Response Center, as required by Part 225.9 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 499. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)