49 CFR § 271.3 - Application.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s271.3"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 271.3 - Application."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "271.3"
section_name: "Application."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "271"
part_name: "RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM"
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. 20103, 20106-20107, 20118-20119, 20156, 21301, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89."
regulatory_source: "85 FR 9314, Feb. 18, 2020, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "271"
---


# 271.3 Application.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, this part applies to—

(1) Class I railroads;

(2) Railroads determined to have inadequate safety performance pursuant to § 271.13; and

(3) Railroads that voluntarily comply with the requirements of this part pursuant to § 271.15.

(b) This part does not apply to:

(1) Rapid transit operations in an urban area that are not connected to the general railroad system of transportation;

(2) Tourist, scenic, historic, or excursion operations, whether on or off the general railroad system of transportation;

(3) Operation of private cars, including business/office cars and circus trains;

(4) Railroads that operate only on track inside an installation that is not part of the general railroad system of transportation (*i.e.,* plant railroads, as defined in § 271.5); and

(5) Commuter or intercity passenger railroads that are subject to Federal system safety program requirements contained in part 270 of this chapter.

(c) If a railroad contracts out significant portions of its operations, the contractor and the contractor's employees performing the railroad's operations shall be considered directly affected employees for purposes of this part.