The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for rail safety regulations and enforcement, rail funding and research on rail improvement strategies.

FRA field inspectors employ discretion to decide on which cases are worthy of the precise and lengthy civil penalty process. This discretion helps ensure that the violations most deserving of punishment are punished.

SMART-TD members and allies made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight is not over.

Safety

The federal Employers’ liability Railroad Administration has a variety of safety measures in place to ensure the health and safety of its employees and the general public. It is responsible for creating and enforcing safety regulations for rail. It also manages rail funding and studies rail improvement strategies and technologies. It also creates and implements a strategy to maintain current infrastructure, services, and capacity and strategically expands and improves the nation's rail network. The department expects all rail companies to adhere to the strictest rules and regulations, empower their workers and provide them with the tools to succeed and stay safe. This includes taking part in the confidential close call reporting system, establishing occupational health and safety committees with full union participation and anti-retaliation safeguards, and providing employees with the necessary personal protection equipment.

Inspectors of the FRA are at the leading edge of enforcing rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct a myriad of investigations into complaints of noncompliance. Anyone who violates the safety rules for rail can be subject to civil penalties. Safety inspectors at the agency have a broad discretion to determine if violations fall within the statutory definition of an offense that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel’s safety division also reviews the reports that regional offices submit to determine if they are legal before assessing penalties. This discretion is exercised at the field and regional levels to ensure that civil penalties are only applied in cases that warrant their use.

A rail worker must be aware of rules and regulations that govern their actions and be aware of the standards to be guilty of a civil penalty-worthy offence. The agency does not consider that an individual who acts on a supervisor's directive is guilty of committing a willful crime. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the entire system that carries goods and passengers within and between metropolitan areas and cities. A plant railroad's trackage in the steel mill isn't considered part of the general transportation system that trains even though it is physically connected to it.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing regulations for trains, such as those relating to safety and the movement of dangerous substances. The agency also manages rail financing including loans and grants for infrastructure and improvements to service. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies as well as industry to devise strategies to improve the nation's rail infrastructure. This work includes maintaining existing rail infrastructure and services as well as addressing the need for new capacity and strategically expanding the network as well as 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 offer more options for passengers and connect people to the places they'd like to travel to. The agency is focused on improving the passenger experience as well as enhancing the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring that the railway system continues to function efficiently.

Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, Federal Employers Liability relating to the size of crews on trains. This is a controversial one in recent years, with several states passing legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule establishes federally the minimum size crew requirements, ensuring that all railroads follow the same safety standards.

This rule also requires that every railroad that has a one-person crew notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will enable FRA to evaluate the characteristics of each operation to the parameters of a standard two-person crew operation. This rule also alters the criteria for reviewing an approval request that is a special fela case settlements from determining whether an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety to determining if the operation is as secure or more secure than a two-person crew operation.

During the public comment period for this rule, a lot of people backed a two-person crew requirement. A form letter sent by 29 people expressed their concern that a single crew member would 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 noted that human factor are responsible for a majority of railroad accidents. They believe that a larger crew could ensure the security of the train and its cargo.

Technology

Railroads that transport passengers and freight employ numerous technologies to increase efficiency, increase security, improve safety and much more. The language used in the rail industry includes a variety of distinct terms and acronyms but some of the most notable innovations include machine vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly called drones).

Technology isn't just replacing some jobs -- it's empowering people to perform their jobs more effectively and safely. Railroads that transport passengers are using smartphone 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.

The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure secure affordable, reliable, and secure transportation in America, is focused on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This is a multi-billion-dollar initiative that will see bridges and tunnels restored as well as tracks and power systems upgraded and stations rebuilt or upgraded. The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will substantially increase the agency's rail improvement programs.

The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a key part of this effort. The National Academies' recent review of the office found that it excelled in engaging, maintaining communications with inputs from a broad range of stakeholders. It is still required to be aware of how its research contributes towards the department's main goal of ensuring safe movement of people and goods via railways.

One area where the agency could be able improve its effectiveness is in identifying and supporting the advancement of automated train technology and systems. The Association of American Railroads, the freight rail industry's primary association that focuses on research, policy and standard-setting and has created a Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to help develop industry standards for implementing the technology.

The FRA is interested in the group's development of a taxonomy to describe automated rail vehicles which defines clearly and consistently different levels of automation. This could be applicable to both rail transit and on-road vehicles. The agency will need to know the degree of risk that the industry sees in fully automated operation, and whether the industry is considering any additional safeguards to minimize that risk.

Innovation

Railroads are adopting technology to boost worker safety, make business processes more efficient, and ensure that the cargo that they transport arrives at its destination in good condition. Examples of this technological advancement include the use of cameras and sensors to monitor freight, to new railcar designs that help keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Some of these technologies enable railroads to dispatch emergency responders directly to the scene of an accident to reduce the danger and minimize the damage to people and property.

Positive Train Control (PTC) is one of the most significant innovations in rail. It is designed to stop train-to-train accidents, instances where trains are on track they shouldn't, and other incidents caused by human error. The system is comprised of three parts of onboard locomotive systems that track the train; wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a massive server that analyzes and collects data.

Railroads that transport passengers also use technology to improve safety and security. Amtrak for instance, is experimenting with the use of drones to help security personnel on trains find passengers and other items in an emergency. The company is also examining ways to make use of drones. They could be used to inspect bridges and other infrastructure or to replace the lighting on railway towers that are dangerous for workers to climb.

Smart track technology is a different technology that can be used in railways for passengers. It is able to detect objects or people on tracks and notify drivers if it is unsafe to continue. These technologies are particularly useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized or other issues in the evenings when the traffic is lower and there are fewer witnesses to an accident.

Telematics is a significant technological advancement in the railway industry. It allows shippers, railways and other parties to follow a traincar's progress in real-time. These capabilities give railcar owners and their crews more control and visibility. They can also assist them in improving efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance, and prevent delays in the delivery of freight to customers.