49 CFR § 213.55 - Track alinement.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s213.55"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 213.55 - Track alinement."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "213.55"
section_name: "Track alinement."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "213"
part_name: "TRACK SAFETY STANDARDS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 20102-20114 and 20142; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89."
regulatory_source: "63 FR 34029, June 22, 1998, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "213"
---


# 213.55 Track alinement.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, alinement may not deviate from uniformity more than the amount prescribed in the following table:

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Class 1 track | 5 | N/A | 5 |  |
| Class 2 track | 3 | N/A | 3 |  |
| Class 3 track | 1⁄ | 1⁄ | 1⁄ |  |
| Class 4 track | 1⁄ | 1 | 1⁄ |  |
| Class 5 track | ⁄ | ⁄ | ⁄ |  |
| The ends of the line shall be at points on the gage side of the line rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the railhead. Either rail may be used as the line rail; however, the same rail shall be used for the full length of that tangential segment of the track. |  |  |  |  |
| The ends of the chord shall be at points on the gage side of the outer rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the railhead. |  |  |  |  |
| N/A—Not Applicable |  |  |  |  |

(b) For operations at a qualified cant deficiency, E<sub>u</sub>, of more than 5 inches, the alinement of the outside rail of the curve may not deviate from uniformity more than the amount prescribed in the following table:

|  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Class 1 track | N/A | 1⁄ |  |
| Class 2 track | N/A | 1⁄ |  |
| Class 3 track | ⁄ | 1⁄ |  |
| Class 4 track | ⁄ | ⁄ |  |
| Class 5 track | ⁄ | ⁄ |  |
| The ends of the chord shall be at points on the gage side of the outer rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the railhead. |  |  |  |
| Restraining rails or other systems may be required for derailment prevention. |  |  |  |
| N/A—Not Applicable |  |  |  |

[78 FR 16100, Mar. 13, 2013]