Section 227.3 - Application(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, subpart B of this part applies to all railroads and contractors to railroads.(b) Subpart B of this part does not apply to-(1) A railroad that operates only on track inside an installation that is not part of the general railroad system of transportation;(2) A rapid transit operation in an urban area that is not connected to the general railroad system of transportation;(3) A rapid transit operation in an urban area that is connected to the general system and operates under a shared use waiver;(4) A railroad that operates tourist, scenic, historic, or excursion operations, whether on or off the general railroad system of transportation; or(5) Foreign railroad operations that meet the following conditions: Employees of the foreign railroad have a primary reporting point outside of the U.S. but are operating trains or conducting switching operations in the U.S.; and the government of that foreign railroad has implemented requirements for hearing conservation for railroad employees; the foreign railroad undertakes to comply with those requirements while operating within the U.S.; and FRA's Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety Officer determines that the foreign requirements are consistent with the purpose and scope of subpart B of this part. A "foreign railroad" refers to a railroad that is incorporated in a place outside the U.S. and is operated out of a foreign country but operates for some distance in the U.S.(c) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, subpart C of this part applies to any railroad that operates a freight train that transports a PIH material, including a residue of such a PIH material, on standard gage track that is part of the general railroad system of transportation.(d) Subpart C of this part does not apply to a railroad that operates only on track inside an installation that is not part of the general railroad system of transportation. 71 FR 63123 , Oct. 27, 2006, as amended at 89 FR 5131 , Jan. 26, 2024