How may trains with operative cab signals be authorized to move when wayside cab signaling apparatus is removed?

When wayside cab signaling apparatus is removed, trains equipped with operative cab signals can be authorized to move through procedures outlined in Rule 280A. This rule provides a framework for safely managing train movements even when certain signaling equipment is inoperative. It ensures that clear guidelines are in place to maintain safety and operational efficiency in these scenarios, allowing dispatchers to authorize movements based on predetermined protocols rather than relying on alternative means that may not guarantee the same level of communication and safety.

Other methods, such as reliance on direct communication with train crews or signal lights from the control center, do not provide the standardized and regulatory-based authority that Rule 280A embodies. Authorizations that come from the engineer or other forms of informal communication may lack the necessary oversight and may not align with established procedures that are designed to prioritize safety during such operational anomalies.