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<br />$ The rule goes into effect on June 24, 2005. <br /> <br />$ Pre-Rule Quiet Zones in the six county Chicago region are excepted from the provisions <br />of this rule pending further evaluation of the data. <br /> <br />2. Requirement to sound the locomotive horn: <br /> <br />$ Outside of quiet zones, railroads must sound the horn 15-20 seconds prior to a train’s <br />arrival at the highway-rail grade crossing, but not more than 1/4 mile in advance of the <br />crossing. <br /> <br />Note: Most State laws and railroad rules currently require that the horn be sounded <br />beginning at a point 1/4 mile in advance of the highway-rail grade crossing and <br />continued until the crossing is occupied by the locomotive. Under the rule, for <br />trains running at less than 45 mph, this will reduce the time and distance over <br />which the horn is sounded. This will reduce noise impacts on local communities. <br /> <br />$ The pattern for sounding the horn will remain, as it currently exists today (two long, one <br />short, one long repeated or prolonged until the locomotive occupies the highway-rail <br />grade crossing). <br /> <br />$ Locomotive engineers may vary this pattern as necessary where highway-rail grade <br />crossings are closely spaced; and they will also be empowered (but not required) to sound <br />the horn in the case of an emergency, even in a quiet zone. <br /> <br />$ The rule addresses use of the horn only with respect to highway-rail grade crossings. <br />Railroads remain free to use the horn for other purposes as prescribed in railroad <br />operating rules on file with FRA, and railroads must use the horn as specified in other <br />FRA regulations (in support of roadway worker safety and in the case of malfunctions of <br />highway-rail grade crossing active warning devices). <br /> <br />$ The rule prescribes both a minimum and maximum volume level for the train horn. The <br />minimum level is retained at 96 dB(A), and the new maximum will be 110 dB(A). This <br />range will permit railroads to address safety needs in their operating territory (see <br />discussion in the preamble). <br /> <br />$ The protocol for testing the locomotive horn will be altered to place the sound-level <br />meter at a height of 15 feet above top of rail, rather than the current 4 feet above the top <br />of the rail. Cab-mounted and low-mounted horns will continue to have the sound-level <br />meter placed 4 feet above the top of the rail. <br /> <br />Note: The effect of this change will be to permit center-mounted horns to be “turned <br />down” in some cases. The previous test method was influenced by the “shadow <br /> <br /> <br />Disclaimer: This is a summary of the Final Rule for initial briefing purposes only. Entities subject to the rule <br />should refer to the rule text as published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2005. <br />The "Train Horn" Final Rule Summary <br />Quiet Zone Evaluation <br />New Brighton, Minnesota <br />B2 Spack Consulting