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Chapter One Definitions and General Provisions: Definitions and General Provisions
Article 1
Article (1) Definition For the purpose of applying the provisions of the present Law, the following words and expressions shall bear the meanings assigned thereto respectively unless the context requires otherwise: The State/UAE : The United Arab Emirates.
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Federal Law No. (8) Of 2020 Regulating Railway 3 The GCC Countries : The member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. The Ministry : The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. The Board : The Minister of the Ministry. The Chairman of the Board : The Minister of the Ministry. The Competent Ministry : The federal or local government entity or the company in which the federal or local government has a stake. The Railway : Railway transportation systems dedicated for the transport of passengers and/or goods and governed by specific routes designated for operating on single or multiple rails or any other designated system classified as railways as determined in the Executive Regulations of the present Law. The Federal Railway : The railway which is designated by virtue of a resolution of the Cabinet in agreement with the member emirates of the Federal Supreme Council and which connects the emirates of the State together or which is connected to a railway outside the State's borders and the associated facilities and land. The Gulf Railway : The railway which connects two or more countries of the GCC countries. The Network : A system of rail routes and the related systems, equipment and land used to support, guide and operate railway vehicles or the relevant matters. The Railway Services : Passenger or cargo services via the Federal Railway. The services of maintenance of the Federal Railway Assets shall not be deemed as operation of such Assets. The License : The document issued by the Ministry on the management of the Infrastructure or operation of the Railway Services. The Railway Assets : Networks, stations, cargo facilities or maintenance facilities related to the Federal Railway or any railway vehicle run on the
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Federal Law No. (8) Of 2020 Regulating Railway 4 Federal Railway; all establishments, facilities, systems and software necessary for operating the Federal Railway and enabling the same to run safely as railways; the structures thereof; service roads; signal, communication and control systems; signals; marks; sources of electrical energy; buildings; stations; warehouses; machinery; equipment; structures; corridors; switches; tunnels; bridges; platforms; railings; support services; drainage; and any constructions or works related to railway. The Infrastructure : The railway assets, except for railway vehicles. The Operational Capacity : The maximum number of trains, passengers and tons of cargo that may be carried out within a specific period by using the infrastructure and complying the applicable controls and criteria. The Station : Real property and facilities designated for providing passenger or cargo services and the supplies thereof. The Infrastructure Manager : A legal person responsible for possessing, developing, managing, operating and maintaining any part of infrastructure, except for the provision of railway services. The Operator : A legal person licensed to provide railway services. The Inspector : An employee of the Ministry who is authorized to verify the safety of railway services or assets and the operation thereof, conduct technical investigation into the accident or incident and issue the necessary recommendations. The Rail Incident : Any act or omission that may result in a rail accident which does not produce harmful consequences. The Rail Accident : Any unexpected and non-deliberate incident which produces harmful consequences within the scope of application of the provisions of the present Law. Technical Investigation : An action carried out to identify the causes of the accident or incident and the consequences thereof and identify the methods
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Federal Law No. (8) Of 2020 Regulating Railway 5 for handling the same and guaranteeing non-recurrence. The Railway Vehicle : Cars, locomotives and mobile equipment that can run on the railway either under their own power or towing them with another vehicle. The Cargo Facility : The place designated for loading, unloading or storing goods. The Maintenance Facility : Any real or movable property used for the purpose of maintaining railway vehicles or relevant purposes even if it is used for other purposes. The Notice to Remedy : A notice given by the Inspector in case of a violation related to the safety of the Federal Railway on taking the necessary actions to remedy such violation within a specific period. The Prohibition Notice : A notice given by the Inspector on suspending any activity practiced against the safety of the Federal Railway. The Standards for Enabling Interoperability : Joint guidelines on implementing and operating the Gulf Railway and any other documents related to the enabling of interoperability approved by the GCC countries. The Safety Zones : The rail route and land adjacent to the outer railroad tracks on both sides of the rail route as determined by the Executive Regulations of the present Law. The Protection Zones : The land adjacent to the Safety Zones and any land identified in agreement with the Competent Ministry in accordance with the conditions and controls set by the Executive Regulations of the present Law. The Independent Safety Assessor : Any legal person authorized by the Ministry to review the safety guides and verify the Infrastructure Manager or the Operator's compliance with the safety requirements in accordance with the safety conditions and guides and the requirements of the Ministry. The Safety Permit : The approval issued by the Ministry to approve the safety management system of any infrastructure manager or any
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Federal Law No. (8) Of 2020 Regulating Railway 6 operator applying for the Ministry's approval of such permit. The Safety Management System : A systematic and comprehensive system for managing safety risks. The Person : The natural or legal person.
