Which authority governs movement over specific tracks when signaling does not provide direct authorization?

• A. Verbal permission from the yardmaster only
• B. The general timetable schedule
• C. A track warrant or equivalent authority
• D. The standard operating procedure that applies everywhere

Answer: (C)

When there isn’t a direct signal indication authorizing movement, a train’s authority to occupy and move over a specific track comes from a track warrant or an equivalent written authority. This formal permission defines the exact track segment, the limits of movement, and any required protections, and it is issued by the dispatcher or another authorized authority. It provides the legal and operational basis to proceed safely on that track, independent of signaling.

Verbal permission from the yardmaster alone isn’t sufficient because it lacks the published limits, formal protection, and official documentation that track warrants provide. The general timetable schedule is a plan of when trains are expected to operate but does not grant authority to occupy a particular track. A standard operating procedure applies broadly but does not grant track-specific authority by itself; the track warrant or equivalent authority is what legally enables the movement.