Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-102
§20505 Reports of Malfunctions and Accidents
Title 49 › SUBTITLE V — RAIL PROGRAMS › PART A — SAFETY › CHAPTER 205 — SIGNAL SYSTEMS › § 20505
Summary
Railroad companies must tell the Secretary of Transportation when a signal system fails, in the way and to the extent the Secretary requires. If that failure causes an accident or incident that injures a person or damages property and must be reported under the Secretary’s rules, the company that owns or maintains the signal must immediately send the Secretary a written report.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §20505
Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In the way and to the extent required by the Secretary of Transportation, a railroad carrier shall report to the Secretary a failure of a signal system to function as intended. If the failure results in an accident or incident causing injury to an individual or property that is required to be reported under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the carrier owning or maintaining the signal system shall report to the Secretary immediately in writing the fact of the accident or incident.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 2050549 App.:26(f) (words before last semicolon).Feb. 4, 1887, ch. 104, 24 Stat. 379, § 25(f) (words before last semicolon); added Feb. 28, 1920, ch. 91, § 441, 41 Stat. 498; restated Aug. 26, 1937, ch. 818, 50 Stat. 836; Sept. 18, 1940, ch. 722, § 14(b), 54 Stat. 919; June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 17(6), (8), 102 Stat. 636. 49 App.:1655(e)(6)(A).Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(e)(6)(A), 80 Stat. 939. The words “signal system” are substituted for “such systems, devices, or appliances” because of the definition of “signal system” in section 20501 of the revised title. The word “indicate” is omitted as being included in “function”. The words “or incident” are added for consistency in this part. The word “individual” is substituted for “person”, and the word “immediately” is substituted for “forthwith”, for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 20505
Title 49, Transportation
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102