21.1(a) Except when otherwise specified in this PART, inspection, testing, and maintenance of grade crossing
warning systems shall be in accordance with the recommended practice of the AREMA Communications
and Signals Manual.
(b) In each instance the term “as instructed” is used in the AREMA Communications and Signals
Manual, specific instructions are required with respect to maintenance, inspection, and testing.
(c) Any subsystem or component of a grade crossing warning system not addressed in the
AREMA Communications and Signals Manual requires specific instructions with respect to maintenance,
inspection, and testing.
Grade Crossing Warning Systems
21.2 Grade crossing warning systems shall be maintained, inspected and tested to ensure that they operate
as intended.
Frequency of Inspection and Testing
21.3(a) Except as noted in (b), and (c), the maximum intervals between inspections and tests of grade crossing
warning systems are specified in Table 21-1. Local circumstances may require inspection and testing
more frequently than the maximum intervals specified.
(b) Grade crossing warning systems consisting of only a bell and danger signs, or mechanical gates, or
wigwags, shall be inspected and tested at least once a day, except during weekends and legal holidays
when not more than 2 days may elapse on which no test is made.
(c) If the maintenance, inspection and testing of a grade crossing warning system has been suspended
because of no demand for railway operations, inspection and testing shall be carried out as follows
before the line of railway is operated again:
suspension up to 3 years, all inspections and tests that were not undertaken in accordance with
Table 21-1; and
suspension of 3 or more years, all inspections and tests required for newly installed grade crossing
warning systems.
21.4(a) Light unit voltage shall be adjusted as closely as possible to the rated voltage under normal operating
conditions. It shall be maintained between 90 and 100 per cent of the rated voltage under standby power
conditions.
(b) Incandescent light units shall be inspected to ensure that the various components are in good condition,
each light unit produces a full beam of parallel light with the proper intensity, and they are properly
aligned.
Plans, Forms and Records
21.5(a) Plans required by the Grade Crossing Regulations, for maintaining, inspecting, and testing a grade
crossing warning system, shall be legible and up to date.
(b) A plan or a form shall include the lens type and the alignment point of each pair of light units.
(c) The record required by the Grade Crossing Regulations of each scheduled maintenance, inspection and
test of a grade crossing warning system shall be kept for at least one year. Where one year or more
elapses between an inspection or test, records of the last two inspections or tests shall be kept.
(d) The record of each unscheduled maintenance, inspection or test of a grade crossing warning system,
including the cause shall be maintained for a period of at least two years from the date of the
unscheduled maintenance.
Table 21-1: Maximum Intervals: Inspection and Test of Grade Crossing Warning
System
RTD 10 sub-section 21.3
Components
Maximum Interval
Reference
21.3.1
Grade crossing warning system following installation, repair,
adjustment, maintenance or testing
Immediately
AREMA Parts 2.4.1 & 3.3.1
21.3.2
Grade crossing warning systems for operation of lights, bell, gates,
power of light
7 days before the operation of locomotives
21.3.3
Check light units for obvious misalignment and for physical damage;
check cleanliness of roundels
One Month
21.3.4
Standby power: operating bank voltage
One Month
21.3.5
Flashing light units, gates, and signs for damage, cleanliness, and
visibility
One Month
AREMA Part 3.3.1
21.3.6
Bell operation
One Month
AREMA Part 3.3.1, 3.2.60, & 3.2.61
21.3.7
Gate arm operation
One Month
AREMA Part 3.2.15
21.3.8
Surge Protection
One Month, and as soon as possible following electrical storm activity
AREMA Part 3.3.1
21.3.9
Switch circuit controller adjustment for spring switches
One Month
AREMA Part 12.5.1
21.3.10
Switch circuit controller adjustment for all switches other than spring
switches
Three Months
AREMA Part 12.5.1
21.3.11
Circuit grounds
Three Months
AREMA Part 3.3.1
21.3.12
Battery isolation faults
Three Months
AREMA Part 3.3.1
21.3.13
Storage batteries: voltage, current, electrolyte level, and plate
deterioration where plates are visible
Three Months
AREMA Part 9.5.1
21.3.14
Primary batteries: degree of exhaustion voltage and current
Three Months
AREMA Parts 9.1.25 & 9.1.26
21.3.15
Components of a grade crossing warning system for interconnection with
traffic signals of a Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing Sign
Three Months
AREMA Part 3.1.10
21.3.16
Fouling circuits
Three Months
AREMA Parts 8.1.1 & 8.6.1
21.3.17
Direct Current relays visual check
Six Months
AREMA Part 6.4.1
21.3.18
Bond wires, track connections, insulated joints and other insulated
track appliances
Six Months
AREMA Parts 8.1.1, 8.6.1 & 8.6.35
21.3.19
Cut-out circuits (any circuit overrides the operation of a grade
crossing warning system)
Six Months
AREMA Parts 16.30.5 & 16.30.9
21.3.20
Gate mechanism and circuit controller: visual inspection
Six Months
AREMA Part 3.2.15
21.3.21
Check control circuits of Traffic Signals installed at a grade crossing
in lieu of a grade crossing warning system
Six Months
21.3.22
Check lights for proper alignment, focus, and visibility utilizing a
method of opening light units and checking the focus of the lamp and
reflector by observing the parallel the beam of light at the prescribed
distance, and checking the cleanliness and condition of the reflector and
lens
Twelve Months
RTD 10 Part D, subsection 19 AREMA Part 3.3.1
21.3.23
Incandescent lamp voltage
Twelve Months
RTD 10 Part D, subsection 21.4(a)
21.3.24
Track circuits (proper functioning)
Twelve Months
AREMA Parts 8.1.1 & 8.6.1
21.3.25
Flash rate and associated device
Twelve Months
AREMA Part 3.3.1
21.3.26
Battery load test
Twelve Months
AREMA Part 9.5.1
21.3.27
Approach warning time
Twelve Months
AREMA Part 3.3.10
21.3.28
Electronic train detection devices
Twelve Months
AREMA Part 3.1
21.3.29
Timing relays and timing devices: check time
Twelve Months
AREMA Part 3.3.1
21.3.30
Cable and wire entrances
Twelve Months
AREMA Part 10.4.1(D)
21.3.31
Switch circuit controller centering device
Twelve Months
AREMA Part 12.5.1
21.3.32
Pole line and attachments
Two Years
AREMA Part 10.4.1(E1)
21.3.33
Joint inspection by railway company and road authority of interconnected
grade crossing warning systems and traffic signals
Two Years
AREMA Part 3.1.10 ITE Preemption Practices
Traffic Control Devices Manual
21.3.34
Joint inspection by railway company and road authority of interconnected
grade crossing warning systems and Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing
Sign
Two Years
AREMA Part 3.1.10 Traffic Control Devices Manual
21.3.35
Gate mechanism electrical values, mechanical clearances and torque
Two Years
AREMA Part 3.2.15
21.3.36
DC Polar, AC Vane, and Mechanical Timer relays: electrical values and
operating characteristics
Two Years
AREMA Parts 6.1.15 & 6.4.5
21.3.37
Relays that affect proper functioning of a grade crossing warning system
(except for DC polar, AC Vane and Mechanical Timer): check electrical
values and operating characteristics
