Contents

1. Short Title
2. Purpose
3. Definitions
4. Applicability
5. Qualifications of Railway Employees
6. Implementation Requirements
7. Testing and Replacement

1. Short Title

1.1 For ease of reference, these Rules may be referred to as the “QNS&L Wayside LED Maintenance Rules”.

2. Purpose

2.1 These Rules prescribe the minimum maintenance requirements for Light Emitting Diode (LED) signal modules used in the wayside signal systems of the Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway Company (QNS&L).

3. Definitions

3.1 AREMA: American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association.

3.2 Canadian Rail Operating Rules (CROR): Rules approved for QNS&L by the Minister of Transport (record of decision TC O 0-53), under the Railway Safety Act (RSA).

3.3 Light emitting diode (LED): A solid-state device capable of producing light when an electrical current is applied in the proper polarity.

3.4 LED signal module: An array of LEDs and a lens that together is capable of providing a circular signal indication, also referred to by AREMA as “LED Light Unit” or “module”.

3.5 Luminous intensity: The luminous flux dΦv leaving the source and propagating in the element of solid angle dΩ containing the given direction, divided by the element of solid angle (Iv = dΦv/dΩ candela).

3.6 Rail Traffic Controller (RTC): See CROR.

3.7 Signal: A means of conveying information.

3.8 QNS&L LED Standards: refers to The Transport Canada Engineering Standards for LED Signal Modules used in Wayside Signal Systems for the Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway, 2006.

3.9 Train crewmember: See CROR.

3.10 Wayside signal system: In the context of these rules, this term refers to a railway signal and traffic control system used to control train traffic.

4. Applicability

4.1 These Rules apply to the QNS&L.

4.2 These Rules supplement, rather than replace, all other applicable rules, such as those in the CROR.

5. Qualifications of Railway Employees

5.1 The QNS&L shall ensure that all employees involved in implementing these Rules are fully conversant with the requirements of these Rules and the associated railway company instructions.

6. Implementation Requirements

6.1 Train Crews

6.1.1 Train crew members shall immediately report to the Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) any abnormalities with the performance of an LED signal module, including when such a module has failed or has displayed a signal improperly.

6.1.2 Signs of vandalism or situations where the uniformity of an LED signal module’s luminance is encumbered by one or more of its LEDs no longer being lit, shall be considered abnormal performance, and shall be reported immediately to the RTC by the train crew member.

6.2 Railway Traffic Controller (RTC)

6.2.1 The RTC shall record all reports from train crewmembers of an LED signal module performance abnormality, including failures, or improperly displayed signals.

6.2.2 This recorded information shall include: the location of the abnormally performing LED signal module; the time and date that the abnormal performance was observed and reported; the action taken to address the abnormal performance and, the time and date the abnormal performance was corrected.

6.2.3 Upon receiving a report of an abnormally performing LED signal module, the RTC shall immediately contact the railway employee responsible for maintaining the wayside signal system; that employee shall repair or replace, and arrange for the testing of, the LED signal module as per section 7.

6.2.4 The RTC shall submit the recorded information daily to railway company management.

6.3 Railway Company Management

6.3.1 Management shall review on a daily basis the recorded information submitted by the RTC.

6.3.2 Management shall ensure the records are kept for a minimum of five (5) years.

6.3.3 Management shall ensure LED signal modules that are observed to be performing abnormally are repaired or replaced and tested as per section 7.

7. Testing and Replacement

7.1 QNS&L shall repair or replace all LED signal modules observed to be performing abnormally.

7.2 QNS&L shall ensure that all LED signal modules observed to be performing abnormally are tested immediately to confirm whether they are performing in accordance with the manufacturer’s expectations and the QNS&L LED Standards.

7.3 Four years after the coming into force of these rules and every four years thereafter, QNS&L shall collect a random sample of at least 2% of the LED signal modules in its wayside signal system and ensure that they are tested to measure their luminous intensity to determine whether the LED signal modules are performing in accordance with the manufacturer’s expectations for luminous intensity and life expectancy.

7.4 QNS&L shall ensure that a qualified and independent firm performs the testing of LED signal modules required under subsections 7.2 and 7.3.

7.5 QNS&L shall keep records with respect to the following:

1. The dates and results of tests conducted in accordance with subsections 7.2 or 7.3;
2. The dates and location of LED signal modules that are repaired or replaced in accordance with subsection 7.1; and,
3. The dates and locations of new LED signal modules that are installed as part of QNS&L’s wayside signal system.