Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-102
§20501 Definition
Title 49 › SUBTITLE V — RAIL PROGRAMS › PART A — SAFETY › CHAPTER 205 — SIGNAL SYSTEMS › § 20501
Summary
Defines "signal system" to mean equipment or systems used to make railroad operations safer.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §20501
Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In this chapter, “signal system” means a block signal system, an interlocking, automatic train stop, train control, or cab-signal device, or a similar appliance, method, device, or system intended to promote safety in railroad operations.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 20501(no source). This section is added to eliminate the unnecessary repetition of the words used in the definition. The definition is derived from 49 App.:26(b)–(f).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Signal Protection Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, § 11408, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1684, provided that: “(a) In General.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2015], the Secretary [of Transportation] shall initiate a rulemaking to require that on-track safety
Regulations
, whenever practicable and consistent with other safety requirements and operational considerations, include requiring implementation of redundant signal protection for maintenance-of-way work crews who depend on a train dispatcher to provide signal protection. “(b) Alternative Safety Measures.—The Secretary shall consider exempting from any final requirements of this section each segment of track for which operations are governed by a positive train control system certified under section 20157 of title 49, United States Code, or any other safety technology or practice that would achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety in providing additional signal protection.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 20501
Title 49, Transportation
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102