{"data":{"id":"us/49-cfr-213.55","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"49 CFR 213.55","heading":"Track alinement.","body":"(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:\nClass of track Tangent track Curved track\nThe deviation of the mid-offset from a 62-foot line 1 may not be more than—(inches) The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 31-foot chord 2 may not be more than—(inches) The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 62-foot chord 2 may not be more than—(inches)\nClass 1 track 5 3 N/A 5\nClass 2 track 3 3 N/A 3\nClass 3 track 13⁄4 11⁄4 13⁄4\nClass 4 track 11⁄2 1 11⁄2\nClass 5 track 3⁄4 1⁄2 5⁄8\n1 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.\n2 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.\n3 N/A—Not Applicable\n(b) For operations at a qualified cant deficiency, Eu, 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:\nClass of track Curved track\nThe deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 31-foot chord 1 may not be more than—(inches) The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 62-foot chord 1 may not be more than—(inches)\nClass 1 track 2 3 N/A 11⁄4\nClass 2 track 2 3 N/A 11⁄4\nClass 3 track 3⁄4 11⁄4\nClass 4 track 3⁄4 7⁄8\nClass 5 track 1⁄2 5⁄8\n1 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.\n2 Restraining rails or other systems may be required for derailment prevention.\n3 N/A—Not Applicable","path":["Title 49—Transportation","Subtitle B—Other Regulations Relating to Transportation","CHAPTER II—FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION","PART 213—TRACK SAFETY STANDARDS","Subpart C—Track Geometry"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-49.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:26:34Z","sha256":"0a95cb7a1e9ba619832cb9de8110945dbf0acbf73ad5df0364862ea0c982a864","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/49-cfr-213.53","next":"us/49-cfr-213.57"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}