Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee
Encyclopedia
The Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) is a set of operating rules for railroads in North America. The NORAC rulebook is used by full and associate member railroads, located mostly in the Northeast United States
.
. The rules cover employee responsibilities, signaling equipment, procedures for safe train movement, dealing with accidents and other topics that directly and indirectly affect railroad safety.
These rules govern operation on main lines, defined as those with some form of block control system.
The 10th edition of the NORAC operating rules went into effect on November 6, 2011.
, Metro-North, New Jersey Transit
, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
, and Delaware & Hudson) met in Newark, NJ with the goal to create a common operating rulebook. In May 1985, a second meeting was held, with eight railroads present, five of the original six (Metro-North withdrew) plus Providence and Worcester, Long Island Rail Road
, and Boston & Maine.
The first rulebook was released in January 1987. It contained rules for three types of train control: automatic block (ABS)
, manual block (MBS), and voice (VCS). The MBS and VCS systems were both governed by NORAC's Form D, which is a train order
transmitted directly to the train.
In 1993 the fourth edition combined the MBS and VCS rules into a single "Form D Control System" (DCS).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Overview
The NORAC rules are intended to enhance railroad safetySafety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
. The rules cover employee responsibilities, signaling equipment, procedures for safe train movement, dealing with accidents and other topics that directly and indirectly affect railroad safety.
These rules govern operation on main lines, defined as those with some form of block control system.
The 10th edition of the NORAC operating rules went into effect on November 6, 2011.
History
In January 1985, six railroads (Conrail, AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, Metro-North, New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is a metropolitan transportation authority that operates various forms of public transit—bus, subway and elevated rail, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolley bus—that serve 3.9 million people in and around Philadelphia,...
, and Delaware & Hudson) met in Newark, NJ with the goal to create a common operating rulebook. In May 1985, a second meeting was held, with eight railroads present, five of the original six (Metro-North withdrew) plus Providence and Worcester, Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
, and Boston & Maine.
The first rulebook was released in January 1987. It contained rules for three types of train control: automatic block (ABS)
Automatic Block Signal
Automatic Block Signaling, or ABS, is a block system that consists of a series of signals that divide a railway line into a series of blocks and then functions to control the movement of trains between them through automatic signals...
, manual block (MBS), and voice (VCS). The MBS and VCS systems were both governed by NORAC's Form D, which is a train order
Train order
Train order operation, or more accurately Timetable and Train order operation, is a largely obsolete system by which the railroads of North America conveyed operating instructions before the days of centralized traffic control, direct traffic control, and the use of track warrants conveyed by radio...
transmitted directly to the train.
In 1993 the fourth edition combined the MBS and VCS rules into a single "Form D Control System" (DCS).