The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology
The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces safety regulations for rail It also provides rail funding and researches rail improvement strategies.
FRA field inspectors use discretion to decide which cases warrant the exact and time-consuming civil penalty process. This discretion helps ensure that the violations most deserving of punishment are penalized.
SMART-TD, along with its allies, made history in 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two people should be allowed in the cabs of freight trains. The fight continues.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration has a range of safety measures in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees and the public. It is responsible for establishing and enforcing safety regulations for rail. It also manages the funding for rail and conducts research on rail improvement strategies and technologies. It also formulates plans, implements and maintains an action plan to maintain current rail services and infrastructure. It also develops and improves the national rail network. The department expects that all rail companies adhere to strict rules and empower their employees, and provide them with tools to be secure and productive. This includes participating in a confidential close-call reporting system, creating labor-management occupational safety and health committees with full participation from unions and anti-retaliation clauses and giving employees the necessary personal protective gear.
FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of railway safety regulations and laws. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct a multitude of investigations into complaints of noncompliance. Civil penalties can be imposed on those who violate the rail safety laws. The agency's safety inspectors have broad discretion over whether a particular violation meets the statutory description of a civil penalty-worthy act. Additionally the Office of Chief Counsel's safety department reviews all reports that are received by regional offices to determine legality before determining penalties. This discretion is exercised at both the field and regional levels to ensure that civil penalties are only used when they are necessary.
A rail worker must be aware of rules and regulations that govern his or her actions and knowingly disregard those rules to be guilty of a civil penalty-worthy offence. The agency does not consider an individual who acted on a supervisor's directive is guilty of committing a willful crime. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the entire network that transports passengers and goods within and between metropolitan areas and cities. The trackage of a plant railroad in a steel mill is not considered part of the general transportation system that trains even though it is physically connected to it.
Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those pertaining to safety and the movement of hazardous materials. The agency oversees rail finance, which includes grants and loan to improve service and infrastructure. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies to improve the rail system of the United States. This includes ensuring the current rail services and infrastructure as well as making sure that there is enough capacity strategically expanding the network and coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.
The agency is responsible for freight transportation but also supervises passenger transportation. The agency is working to connect people with the places they'd like to visit and offer more alternatives for travel. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience, increasing the safety of the current fleet, and ensuring that the rail network is operating efficiently.
Railroads are required to abide with a number of federal regulations, which include those relating to the size and composition of train crews. In fela law firm has been a source of contention. Some states have passed legislation mandating two-person teams on trains. This final rule codifies the minimum requirements for crew size at an international level, and ensures that all railroads are subject to consistent safety standards.
This rule also requires each railroad that operates one-person train crews to notify FRA of the operation and submit an assessment of risk. This will allow FRA to better understand the specific parameters of each operation and compare them to the normal two-person crew operation. Additionally, this rule changes the criteria for reviewing an approval petition that is based on determining whether the operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining if approving the operation would be as secure or as safe as a two-crewmember operation.
During the public comment period on this rule, many people supported the requirement of a two-person crew. A letter written by 29 individuals emphasized their concerns that a single crew member might not be as quick to respond to issues with trains or grade crossing incidents, or assist emergency response personnel at a highway-rail grade crossing. Commenters emphasized that human factors are the reason for more than half of all railroad accidents. They believe that a bigger crew will ensure the security of the train as well as its cargo.
Technology
Railroads for passenger and freight use a wide array of technologies to enhance efficiency, add security, increase safety and more. The language used in the rail industry includes many distinct terms and acronyms but some of the more notable innovations include machines-vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly known as drones).
Technology doesn't just replace some jobs. It helps people perform their jobs better and safer. Railroads that transport passengers are using smartphones apps and contactless fare payment cards to increase ridership and make the system more efficient. Other innovations such as autonomous rail cars are coming closer to becoming reality.
As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure secure, reliable and affordable transportation options for the country In its ongoing effort to ensure safe, reliable and affordable transportation for the nation, the Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This multi-billion dollar project will see tunnels, bridges tracks, power systems, and tracks upgraded and stations being rebuilt or replaced. The FRA's rail improvement program will be significantly increased by the recently approved bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is an essential part of this effort. The most recent National Academies review of the office found that it excelled in engaging, maintaining communication and using inputs from a range of stakeholders. But it still needs to concentrate on how its research contributes to the department's primary objective of ensuring the safe transportation of goods and people by railway.
One area where the agency could be able to improve its effectiveness is in identifying and assisting the development of automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads, the main freight rail industry industry organization that focuses on research, policy and standardization, has established a Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to help develop industry standards for the implementation of the technology.
FRA will be interested in the creation of an automated rail taxonomy, which is a standard that will clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that would be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will also need to understand the level of safety risk that the industry sees with implementing fully automated operation and whether or not the industry is contemplating additional safeguards to mitigate that risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are adopting new technologies to improve worker safety, boost efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the freight they transport arrives at its destination in good condition. These innovations include cameras and sensors that monitor freight to new railcar designs which keep hazardous cargo safe during transit. Some of these technologies even provide a way for railroads to dispatch emergency personnel to areas of accidents so that they can swiftly mitigate risks to people and property.
Positive Train Control (PTC) is among the most significant developments in rail. It is designed to prevent train-to-train accidents, situations when trains are in a position they shouldn't be, and other accidents caused by human error. This system is made up of three components: onboard locomotive systems which track the train; wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive; and a massive server that analyzes and collects data.
Trains for passengers also adopt technology to enhance security and safety. Amtrak for instance, is experimenting with drones to help train security staff locate passengers and other items in the event of an emergency. The company is also examining ways to use drones. They could be used to check bridges and other infrastructures or to replace the lights on railway towers that are dangerous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is another technology that can be used in railways for passengers. It can detect objects or people on tracks and warn drivers that it is unsafe to continue. These technologies are particularly effective in detecting unsafe crossings or other issues in the evenings when the traffic is lower and there are fewer witnesses to an accident.
Telematics is another important technological advancement in the rail industry. It lets railways, shippers, and other stakeholders, to follow a traincar's progress in real-time. These capabilities give railcar owners and crews greater accountability and transparency and assist them in improving efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays in the delivery of freight to customers.