1.1 Introduction

In exercising his power under Section 88(1) and 88(2)(a) and (b) Railways Act 1991, the Director General with the approval of the Minister, made a railway regulations (Railway Protection Zone) 1998 which came into force on 22 October 1998.

In accordance to the Regulation 3, Designation of railway protection zone, The Director General shall designate an area in the railway premises as a railway protection zone, as described in Drawings A to F in the First Schedule of the regulation.

1.2 Application Process

Railway premise is considered as a safety critical area where any development activities across/along it must be physically controlled so as to protect the safe operation of the railway transport. Therefore, the designated area along, above or under the railway corridor, also recognized as the railway protection zone must be restricted from any works such as laying of utilities and construction of structures as below:

(i)	Water pipe;
(ii)	Gas pipe;
(iii)	Telecom cable;
(iv)	Electric cable;
(v)	Culvert;
(v)	Bridges;
(v)	Buildings.

As such, before any contractor/developer commences work in the railway protection zone, he must ensure that he submits work application and be granted work permission/approval from the Department of Railways. Once approval granted, they must abide by the requirement set by the railway operators and the Department of Railways at all times.

The work permission/approval within the railway protection zone can also be considered as a supporting letter for issuance of development order or planning permission by the local authority. This is in line with the regulation stating that a local planning authority should consult with the Director General before allowing any restricted activity to be carried out in the railway protection zone.