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 inspectors on the ground use discretion to determine which cases are worthy of the lengthy and precise civil penalty process. This helps ensure that the most serious violations 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 continues.

Safety

The Federal railroad (peatix.com) Administration implements a number of safety measures to protect the health of its employees and public. It is responsible for creating and enforcing regulations for rail safety. It also manages the funding for rail and conducts research on improvements to rail strategies and technological developments. It also creates and implements a plan to maintain current rail services, infrastructure and capacity, and strategically expands and enhances the national rail network. The department requires all rail companies to adhere to strict rules and regulations, empower their employees and provide them with the tools to succeed and stay secure. This includes a confidential close-call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational safety and health committees that have full-union participation and antiretaliation provisions and giving employees the necessary personal protective gear.

FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of railway safety regulations and laws. They perform routine inspections on equipment and investigate hundreds of complaints. Those who violate rail safety laws may be punished with civil penalties. Safety inspectors at the agency have a broad discretion to determine if violations fall within the definition provided by law of an act that is punishable with civil penalties. Additionally the Office of Chief Counsel's security division reviews all reports that are received by regional offices for legality prior to assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion both at the regional and field levels ensures that the time-consuming, costly civil penalty process is used only in situations that are truly deserving of the effect of a civil penalty.

Rail employees must be aware of rules and regulations that govern his or her actions and be aware of the guidelines to commit a civil penalty-worthy offense. However the agency doesn't consider anyone who is acting under a direction by a supervisor as having committed an intentional violation. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the entire network that passengers and goods travel within metropolitan and city areas, or between them. The trackage of a plant railroad in the steel mill isn't considered to be part of the overall rail system of transportation, even although it is physically connected to it.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing regulations for trains including those related to safety and the movement of dangerous substances. The agency also manages rail financing, including grants and loans for infrastructure and service improvements. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies as well as industry to develop strategies to improve the rail system of the United States. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services and making sure that there is enough capacity strategically expanding the network and coordinating national and regional systems planning and development.

Although the majority of the agency's work focuses on freight transportation, it also handles the transportation of passengers. The agency is working to offer more options for passengers and connect passengers with the places they would like to go. The agency is focused on improving the experience for passengers as well as improving the safety of the current fleet, and ensuring the rail network is operating efficiently.

Railroads are required to abide with a range of federal regulations, which include those that deal with the size and composition of the train crews. In recent years this issue has become a source of controversy. Certain states have passed legislation requiring two-person crews on trains. This final rule codifies the minimum requirements for crew size at the federal level, making sure that all railroads are subject to consistent safety standards.

This law also requires that each railroad operating a one-person crew notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will allow FRA to compare the parameters of each operation with the standard two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the criteria for reviewing an application for special approval to determine if an operation is "consistent" with fela railroad accident lawyer safety standards to determining whether the operation is safer or less risky than a two-person crew operations.

During the time of public comment for this rule, a large number of people voiced their support for a requirement for two persons on the crew. A letter from 29 people outlined their concerns that a lone crewmember could not be as quick to respond to train-related malfunctions or crossing incidents, or assist emergency response personnel at a highway rail grade crossing. The commenters noted that human factors account for more than half all railroad accidents, and they believe that a larger team will ensure the safety of the train and its cargo.

Technology

Trains for passenger and freight use various technologies to improve efficiency, enhance security, and increase safety. Rail industry jargon includes a variety of distinct terms and acronyms. Some of the most notable include machine vision systems (also called drones) instruments for rail-inspection systems driverless trains rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones).

Technology isn't just about replacing certain jobs. It allows people to perform their jobs more effectively and safer. 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 reality.

The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote safe, reliable, and affordable transportation in the United States, is focused on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This multi-billion dollar project will see tunnels, bridges tracks, power systems and tracks updated, and stations being rebuilt or replaced. FRA's recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure law will dramatically 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 at keeping in touch with inputs from a variety of stakeholders. It is still required to focus on how its research contributes to the department's main goal of ensuring safe movement of goods and people by rail.

The agency could increase its efficiency by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the main industry association for the freight rail industry that focuses on research policy, standard-setting and policy and has established the Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations in order to help create standards within the industry.

FRA is interested in the creation of an automated rail taxonomy, which is a standard that will clearly and consistently define the different levels of automation that would be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency would like to know the amount of risk the industry sees in fully automated operation, as well as whether the industry is contemplating any additional safeguards to reduce that risk.

Innovation

Rail companies are embracing technology to improve worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the freight they transport reaches its destination in good condition. Examples of such technological advancement include the use of sensors and cameras to keep track of freight, and to new railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Some of these technologies allow railroads to dispatch emergency responders directly to sites of accidents to reduce the danger and minimize the damage to people and property.

One of the most well-known innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC), which will inhibit train-to-train collisions, situations where trains are on tracks they shouldn't be and other accidents resulting from human error. This system consists of three parts: onboard locomotive systems which track the train; wayside networks which communicate with the locomotive and a massive server that analyzes and collects data.

Passenger railroads are also embracing technology to enhance safety and security. Amtrak for instance, is experimenting with drones to assist train security personnel locate passengers and other items in the event of an emergency. The company is also exploring ways to make use of drones. They could be used to inspect bridges and other infrastructure or to replace the lights on railway towers that are hazardous for workers to climb.

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

Another important technological advancement in the rail industry is telematics which allows shippers, railroads and other stakeholders to see a traincar's status and condition via real-time tracking. Railcar operators and crews can benefit from increased accountability and visibility which can help them improve efficiency and avoid unnecessary maintenance. It will also help reduce delays when delivering freight.