Railway Passenger Car Inspection & Safety Rules

Part III - Safety Design

  1. General
  2. Application
  3. Jumpers and Cable Connections
  4. Fail Safe Design of Circuits and Systems
  5. Side and End Windows and Door Glazing
  6. Emergency Tools and Equipment
  7. Emergency Brake Valve
  8. Defective Wheel Bearing Sensing
  9. Interior Finish
  10. Equipment Attachment
  11. Emergency Lighting
  12. Parcel and Luggage Racks
  13. Toilets
  14. Passenger Car Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

16. General

16.1 Every passenger car that operates over public highway crossings and utilizes the same trackage as freight trains shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the "Association of American Railroads Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices", or to an equivalent standard to provide for safe operation and for the protection of passengers, operating crews, and property from accidents caused by failure of car equipment.

Unless otherwise specified in these rules, new equipment ordered after April 1, 2001 shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the Safety Standards of the latest revision in effect at the time of order of the "American Public Transit Association (APTA) Manual of Standards And Recommended Practices For Passenger Rail Equipment", or equivalent standard.

16.2 The design of the passenger car shall incorporate appropriate safety features such as protective cages for rotating equipment, safety securement for food carts, for ceiling and other hinged panels, anti-skid decking and fail safe interlocks for all electrical equipment.

16.3 The design of the passenger car shall provide safe and operationally functional inter-car connections, including diaphragms, side curtains, walkway plates, tail-end safety bar or gate, lighting and handholds.

17. Application

17.1 Strength and loading design criteria shall apply to all new or remanufactured passenger car systems, and be filed with the Department in accordance with subsection 32.2.

18. Jumpers and Cable Connections

18.1 Jumpers and cable connections between cars shall be located to provide sufficient vertical clearance and shall not hang with end free.

19. Fail Safe Design of Circuits and Systems

19.1 Any component of electrical or mechanical systems shall not, in the case of operating or function failure, cause or create unsafe conditions for the car occupants.

19.2 Control failure of powered side access doors and steps shall not result in a door or step opening, or remaining open, while the car is in motion.

19.3 Powered doors and steps shall have provision for manual operation in the event of a system failure.

19.4 The design of the car banking system shall ensure that, in the event of a system failure, the car body remains within the railway operating clearance limits.

19.5 In the case of failure, the control circuit of the defective bearing sensing system, where provided, shall operate on emergency power.

20. Side and End Windows and Door Glazing

20.1 Every passenger car side and end window installation shall be capable of effectively resisting external and internal air pressure differentials caused by passing trains, tunnels, or other track side structures.

20.2 Every passenger car shall have at least two accessible emergency exit windows installed on each side of the car, located near each end of the car, for a total of four emergency exit windows. This shall apply to each level of a bi-level car. Bi-level cars that incorporate a three levels design shall have a minimum of one window per side in each of the intermediate levels. Each window shall have a minimum unobstructed clear opening of 18 inches by 24 inches, in any direction. On new equipment each window shall have a minimum unobstructed opening of 26 inches horizontally by 24 inches vertically.

Cars with partial dome levels (not fully bi-level) shall have at least one emergency window, in the dome level. New Equipment with partial dome levels shall have at least two emergency windows on each end of the dome level.

20.3 Emergency windows shall be fabricated of:

  1. double glazed toughened or tempered safety glass;
  2. safety glass supported within a push-out frame; or
  3. double glazed composite window with emergency exit provision.

20.4 Every passenger car side window not intended as an emergency exit window shall be a double glazed window with the inner pane of laminated safety glass or of equal quality.

20.5 Every passenger car where a breakable emergency exit window is located, a readily accessible tool appropriate to break the glass shall be provided and a pictograph to indicate the intended use of the tool.

20.6 Every passenger car emergency exit window shall have clear, visible instructions permanently affixed to the closest, suitable location which will illustrate the emergency exit features of the window.

20.7 Every passenger car intended to transport passengers shall have a pictograph type decal prominently displayed at each end of the car in close proximity to the entrance doorways, illustrating:

  1. the location of every emergency exit, inside and outside of the car; and
  2. the location of all emergency tools and equipment inside of the car.

20.8 Every new or remanufactured passenger car and/or replacement decals on existing equipment shall be equipped with pictograph type decals that glow in the dark.

21. Emergency Tools and Equipment

21.1 Emergency tools and equipment cabinets, readily visible and accessible, shall be provided in each car.

21.2 Tool cabinets shall be suitably enclosed, entirely recessed and shall be readily accessible by either passengers or crew without the use of tools.

21.3 Procedures for removal of the glazing in case of emergency shall be indicated by pictographs mounted in conspicuous and clearly visible locations.

21.4 The emergency tools and equipment will include:

  1. fire extinguishers that meet the requirement of Part XIII, of the "On-Board Trains Occupational Safety and Health Regulations", one of which shall be located in the galley area;
  2. wrecking tools suitable to the car's fabrication.

21.5 First aid supplies and equipment will consist of the following:

  1. every passenger train consisting of five passenger cars or less shall be equipped with a stretcher and a trauma kit. A train consisting of more than five passenger cars shall be equipped with two stretchers and two trauma kits, one at each end of the passenger car consist. The trauma kits shall contain twice the first aid supplies prescribed in Part XII of the "On-Board Trains Occupational Safety and Health Regulations" and shall include four flashlights, one armband, five pairs of latex gloves, and five pocket masks, one way valve resuscitation mouth to mouth protectors, and one megaphone;
  2. every passenger car shall be equipped with first aid supplies that meet the requirements of Part XII of the "On-Board Trains Occupational Safety and Health Regulations"; and
  3. the first aid supplies and equipment shall be available and accessible to train and emergency crews.

22. Emergency Brake Valve

22.1 Every passenger car shall be provided with a device at each end of the car or other accessible location on the car, which when activated shall cause an emergency application of the brakes throughout the train from any time or stage of brake application and release.

23. Defective Wheel Bearing Sensing

23.1 An overheated bearing detector and alarm system, or other appropriate method of heat detection, shall be provided for each inboard mounted bearing.

24. Interior Finish

24.1 The structures, furnishings and other components located in the interior of a passenger car shall be free of any sharp projections, corners or rough finishes detrimental to the safety of persons within the interior of the car.

25. Equipment Attachment

25.1 Fasteners used to secure interior structures, components, or equipment to the car body shall be vibration-resistant.

25.2 Under car equipment components weighing more than 100 pounds (45.4 kg) shall be mounted on supports integrated with the car structure and in such a manner that its weight shall rest on the car supports before being secured by vibration resistant fasteners.

25.3 Where car design restricts compliance to subsection 25.2, a suitable safety device shall be installed to protect against failure of fasteners.

25.4 Securement of fixed passenger seating shall be designed to withstand a 5-g longitudinal, a 3-g lateral and vertical forces, with one 185 pounds (83.8 kg) passenger in each seat, without failure of seat attachments.

26. Emergency Lighting

26.1 Every passenger car shall be equipped with automatic battery supplied emergency lighting of sufficient capacity to enable quick evacuation, by providing a minimum of lighting in vestibule areas, at end doors, in the galley, washrooms and isle ways as provided for in Part III of the "On Board Trains Occupational Safety and Health Regulations".

27. Parcel and Luggage Racks

27.1 Overhead parcel and luggage racks on new or remanufactured cars shall be of the enclosed type or equipped with restraints.

27.2 Heavy luggage storage shall be provided with adequate restraints, and attachments of racks to the floor shall conform to the requirements defined in subsection 25.4 when fully loaded with luggage.

28. Toilets

28.1 Toilets where provided on new or remanufactured cars shall be the full retention type.

29. Passenger Car Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

29.1 Every passenger car that can accommodate a wheelchair shall be identified by the international symbol of access placed on the outside of both sides of the car by the entrance.

29.2 A passenger train with only one wheelchair tie-down should have priority storage space on the train for the personal wheelchair of a person who transfers to a passenger seat.

29.3 A passenger car with a wheelchair tie-down should have doorways that are wide enough to permit a person in a personal wheelchair to access the tie-down.

29.4 The location of the wheelchair tie-down should permit easy access to the wheelchair-accessible doorways and washroom.