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Railway Employee Radio Communication Rule is available in PDF format (file size 136kb) which will download in approximately 39 seconds on a 28.8 connection and may be viewed using Acrobat Reader (version 3.0 or higher).

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Contents

1. Scope
2. Definitions
3. Emergency Radio Transmissions
4. Radio Communication

1.0 Scope

1.1 This rule shall apply to railway employees required by their railway company to transmit and receive radio communications.

1.2 It shall be the responsibility of the railway company and its employees to comply with the terms of this rule.

1.3 The railway company shall provide instruction so that its employees use of radio communications conforms with the terms of this rule.

1.4 The railway company shall ensure it identifies for the employee the radio channels the employee is to use, including channels to be used in case of emergency.

1.5 Except in cases of emergency, all radio transmissions shall be restricted to matters pertaining to railway operations.

2.0 Definitions

In this rule:

2.1 "Channel" means the radio frequency designated by the railway company for the purpose of voice communications.

2.2 "Designation" means the clearance designation or the train, engine or track unit number.

2.3 "Employee" means an employee of a railway company who is required to use radio communication devices in connection with railway activities.

2.4 "Radio Communication" means a series of voice transmissions made utilizing radio communication devices.

3.0 Emergency Radio Transmissions

3.1 Emergency radio transmissions shall have priority over all other transmission.

3.2 Emergency radio transmissions shall be initiated by repeating the word "emergency" three times.

3.3 The employee initiating an emergency call shall in addition to requirements stated in Section 4.0, also state the nature of the emergency, the location and identify the assistance required.

3.4 Employees shall ensure they do not interfere with emergency radio transmissions.

4.0 Radio Communication

4.1 Radio communication shall be made clearly and concisely and in accordance with the following requirements;

1. numbers may be pronounced in full or their digits may be stated separately.
2. a decimal point shall be indicated by the word "point".
3. the twenty four hour system shall be used for expressing time.

4.2 Except in the case of an emergency, employees shall not initiate a radio transmission on a channel that is known to be in use.

4.3 When a radio communication is initiated, the employee shall:

1. state the railway, the name or occupation of the person being called and, if applicable, the designation of the train, engine or track unit being called;
2. identify himself/herself, including the railway, his/her name or occupation, and, if applicable, the train, engine or track unit designation;
3. end the initial call with the spoken word "over".

4.4 Where an employee responds to an initial call, he/she shall provide the name of the railway, his/her name and/or occupation and if applicable, the train, engine or track unit designation.

4.5 Each party to a radio communication shall end their final transmission with the spoken word "out".