Facilities provided by railroads

§ 6204. Facilities provided by railroads (a) A railroad engaged in the transportation of mail shall provide the following equipment and facilities— (1) cars or parts of cars used in the transportation and distribution of mail; (2) facilities for protecting and handling mail in its custody; (3) station space and rooms for handling, storing and transfer of mail in transit, including the separation thereof by packages for connecting lines, and for distribution of registered mail in transit; and (4) when required by the Postmaster General, offices for employees of the postal transportation service engaged in station 74 Stat. 690 work, in which mail from station boxes may be distributed if additional space is not required therefor. (b) Railway post office cars or parts thereof used for mail transportation and distribution must be of such construction, style, length, and character, and must be equipped in such manner as the Postmaster General requires. They must be constructed, equipped, maintained, heated, lighted, and cleaned by and at the expense of the railroad. The Postmaster General may not pay for full and apartment railway post office car service unless the car furnished therefor is sound in material and construction, equipped with sanitary drinking water containers and toilet facilities, and regularly and thoroughly cleaned. He may not accept or pay for service by a full railway post office car unless the car is constructed of steel, steel underframe, or equally indestructible material. (c) A railroad shall place cars used for full or apartment railway post office car service in stations at such times before the departure of the trains as the Postmaster General directs.