Within a track warrant, what should a crew do when a hold or stop instruction is issued?

• A. Ignore if minor.
• B. Obey exactly and report completion to dispatcher.
• C. Delay until next signal.
• D. Report to supervisor only.

Answer: (B)

When a hold or stop instruction is issued within a track warrant, you must comply exactly with the instruction and report completion to the dispatcher. Holds are put in place to prevent conflicts with other movements or work on adjacent sections, so you don’t reinterpret, delay, or proceed differently than stated. You stop at the designated point and do not move again until you’ve received explicit clearance from the dispatcher, which keeps the track authority accurate and everyone informed. Reporting completion lets the dispatcher know you have obeyed the hold and and are awaiting further instructions. Ignoring a hold, treating it as minor, delaying for a later signal, or reporting only to a supervisor would sidestep the dispatcher’s control, increasing the risk of conflicts or unsafe movements.