49 CFR 236.18, 49CFR 236 Subpart H, and the Need for Configuration Management

In mid-2005, new FRA rules went into effect related to configuration management of certain railroad assets. The rules are 49 CFR Part 236.18 and 49 CFR Subpart H, and are better known to the rail industry as the "Configuration Management" rules. The FRA describes 49 CFR 236 Subpart H as intended to "promote the safe operation of processor-based signal and train control systems, subsystems, and components that are safety-critical products." 49 CFR 236 Subpart H "prescribes minimum, performance-based safety standards for safety-critical products, including requirements to ensure that the development, installation, implementation, inspection, testing, operation, maintenance, repair, and modification of those products will achieve and maintain an acceptable level of safety. Each railroad may prescribe additional or more stringent rules, and other special instructions, that are not inconsistent with this subpart."

The RailDOCS Configuration Management System to was designed and developed to address these new realities.

The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49 contains all of the regulations relevant to Transportation. It is organized into nine volumes, all available here in PDF format. These documents were last revised October 1, 2007. Because so much of our business is focused on federal compliance, we do our best to keep these documents up to date. However, if you are looking for the most up to date information, you should check the Federal Register for any changes.

Volume 1 49 CFR Parts 1-99 ( Office of the Secretary of Transportation)

Volume 2 49 CFR Parts 100-185 ( Research and Special Projects Administration, HazMat Transportation)

Volume 3 49 CFR Parts 186-199 ( Research and Special Projects Administration)

Volume 4 49 CFR Parts 200-299 ( Federal Railroad Administration)

Volume 5 49 CFR Parts 300-399 ( Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)

Volume 6 49 CFR Parts 400-599 ( Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Volume 7 49 CFR Parts 600-999 ( Federal Transit Administration, National Railroad Passenger)

Volume 8 49 CFR Parts 1000-1199 ( Surface Transportation Board)

Volume 9 49 CFR Parts 1200-1599 ( Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security)