Vehicle Securement
Vehicle securement prevents unintended movement of the rail vehicles that make up trains.
In MBTA rail yards, where rail vehicles are moved into and out of carhouses for maintenance, specific procedures must be followed to prevent unintended rail vehicle movement and keep personnel safe. For example:
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Inspection Checklists
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Rail vehicle safety inspection checklists must be completed before any rail yard movement and before returning a rail vehicle to passenger service.
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Carhouse Circle Check
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After maintenance, vehicle maintenance and rail yard personnel must inspect the interior and exterior of the train before it is released from the carhouse.
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Joining and Separating Trains
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Trains may only be joined or separated by yard masters and yard motorpersons in certain rail yard areas.
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Blue Flag/Blue Light Procedures
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These procedures protect personnel working on rail vehicles in the carhouse. They prohibit the movement of rail vehicles in the protected area, marked by a cone with a blue flag and blue light on either end of the train.
FTA Safety Management Inspection Response
FTA Special Directive 22-05
During their Safety Management Inspection (SMI), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued Special Directive (SD) 22-05 and required new procedures, training, and compliance tracking for safe rail vehicle movement. The findings and required actions focus on preventing the unintended movement of rail vehicles with identified defects.
Corrective Action Plans (CAPs)
The MBTA developed CAPs that exceed the FTA’s requirements and evaluate broader inspection procedures, staffing, and process improvements. CAPs are made up of action items at different stages of progress:
- Not yet submitted: The action item has not been completed.
- Under FTA review: The MBTA completed the action item and submitted documentation to the FTA. The FTA is reviewing the MBTA's submission.
- Resubmissions in progress: The MBTA completed the action item and submitted documentation to the FTA. The FTA requested additional information from the MBTA.
- Submissions accepted by the FTA: The MBTA completed the action item and submitted documentation to the FTA. The FTA accepted the MBTA’s submission.
| CAP | Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CAP | SD 22-05 CAP 1 develops and implements written procedures for moving rail vehicles in rail yards. | Status | Complete |
| CAP | SD 22-05 CAP 2 develops and implements training programs, policies, and procedures to safely move rail vehicles with suspected brake or engine issues in rail yards. | Status | Complete |
| CAP | SD 22-05 CAP 3 creates and implements a compliance program to ensure personnel consistently and accurately follow policies and procedures when moving rail vehicles with suspected brake or engine issues in rail yards. | Status | In progress |
| CAP | CAP VSC-23-001 establishes a Project Improvement Plan for procedures to inspect the exteriors of trains before passenger service. While working together on SD 22-05, the MBTA and FTA found more opportunities to improve rail vehicle fleet management. In response, the MBTA developed this plan. | Status | In progress |
