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 inspectors on the ground use discretion to determine which cases are worthy of the time-consuming and precise civil penalty procedure. This allows them to ensure that the most serious violations are punished.
SMART-TD, along with its allies, made history in 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two people should be allowed to sit in the cabs of freight locomotives. trains. The fight continues.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration implements a variety of safety measures to safeguard the health of employees and public. It formulates and enforces rail safety regulations, administers rail funding and researches strategies for improving rail and technologies. It also develops and implements a plan to maintain current infrastructure, rail services 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 workers and provide them with tools to be successful and secure. This includes participating in a confidential close-call reporting system, establishing labor-management occupational safety and health committees with full-union participation and antiretaliation provisions and providing employees with the required personal protective equipment.
Inspectors of the FRA are at the forefront of enforcing rail safety regulations and laws. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct hundreds of investigations into complaints of noncompliance. Anyone who violates the rail safety laws could be subject to civil penalties. Safety inspectors at the agency have a wide discretion to determine if an act is within the legal definition of an act punishable with civil penalties. Additionally, the Office of Chief Counsel's security division examines all reports submitted by regional offices for legal sufficiency 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 the rules and regulations that govern his or her actions and be aware of the standards to commit a criminal offense that is punishable by a civil penalty. The agency does not believe that a person who acts in response to a supervisor's direction has committed a willful offense. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the entire system that allows passengers and goods to travel within cities and metropolitan areas, or between them. A plant railroad's trackage in a steel mill is not considered to be part of the overall transportation system by rail, even being 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 oversees railway finance, including grants and loan for service and infrastructure improvement. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies for improving the nation's rail system. This includes maintaining existing rail infrastructure and services, in addition to addressing the need for additional capacity, strategically expanding the network as well as coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.
The agency is primarily responsible for freight transport, but also supervises passenger transportation. The agency is working to offer more options for passenger travel and connect people with the places they would like to go. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience, enhancing the safety of the existing fleet, and making sure that the rail network is operating efficiently.
Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, including those related to the size of crews on trains. In recent years the issue has been a source of contention. Certain states have passed legislation mandating two-person teams on trains. This final rule codifies the minimum crew size requirements at a federal level, ensuring that all railroads are subject to consistent safety standards.
This rule 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 to the standard two-person crew operation. In addition this rule alters the standard of review for a special approval petition from determining whether the operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining whether approving the operation is safe or safer than a two-crewmember operation.
During the period of public comments for this rule, a large number of people expressed their support for a requirement of two persons on the crew. A letter written by 29 people expressed their concern that a lone crewmember could not be as quick to respond to train malfunctions or grade crossing incidents or assist emergency response personnel at a highway rail grade crossing. fela lawsuit settlements pointed out that human factors account for more than half of railroad accidents and they believe that a larger team would help ensure the safety of the train and its cargo.
Technology
Freight and passenger railroads employ a wide array of technologies to enhance efficiency, improve safety, boost security and more. Rail industry jargon comprises a variety of distinct terms and acronyms. Some of the most well-known include machine vision systems (also known as drones) instruments for rail-inspection systems, driverless train, rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicle (also called drones).
Technology isn't just replacing certain jobs, it's also empowering people to do their job more effectively and safely. Railroads for passengers use apps on smartphones and contactless fare cards to increase ridership and improve the efficiency of their system. Other developments like autonomous rail cars are moving closer to reality.
The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote safe reliable, affordable, and cost-effective transportation in America is focusing on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This multi-billion dollar project will see bridges, tunnels, tracks and power systems upgraded and stations rebuilt or replace. The FRA's rail improvements program will be greatly expanded by the recently passed bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a central component of this initiative. The most recent National Academies review of the office found that it excelled in engaging, maintaining communication and using inputs of a wide range of stakeholders. It still needs to consider how its research contributes to the department's primary objective of ensuring safe movement of goods and people by rail.
The agency could enhance its effectiveness by identifying and supporting automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the principal industry association for the freight rail industry, which is focused on research policy, standard-setting and policy, established a Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations in order to help establish standards for the industry.
FRA is likely to be interested in the development of an automated rail taxonomy, a standard that will clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that could be applicable to both rail and on-road transit vehicles. The agency will also need to know the degree of risk to safety that the industry sees when implementing a fully automated system and whether the industry is considering additional safeguards to mitigate that risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are adopting new technologies to increase worker safety, boost efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the cargo they transport reaches its destination intact. Examples of this kind of innovations include the use of cameras and sensors to keep track of freight, and to new railcar designs that help keep hazardous cargo secure during transit. Some of these technologies even provide a way for railroads to send emergency responders to areas of accidents so that they can quickly mitigate the damage and reduce the risk to property and lives.
One of the most renowned innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC) that will stop collisions between trains and trains, situations in which trains are on tracks they shouldn't be and other accidents resulting from human error. It is a three-part system consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train and wayside networks that connect with the locomotive and a massive backend server that gathers and analyzes data.
Trains for passengers are also adopting technology to bolster security and safety. Amtrak is one example. It is testing the use of drones to assist train security personnel locate passengers and other items in an emergency. Amtrak is also investigating different ways to use drones, including deploying drones to inspect bridges and other infrastructure such as replacing the lights on railway towers, which can be dangerous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is a different technology that can be utilized in railways that transport passengers. It is able to detect objects or people on tracks and warn motorists that it is not safe to continue. These kinds of technology are especially beneficial in detecting unsafe crossings as well as other issues that can arise in the off-hours, when traffic levels are lower and there are fewer people to witness an accident.
Telematics is another important technological advancement in the rail industry. It allows railways, shippers and other stakeholders, to track a traincar in real-time. Such capabilities give railcar operators and crews greater control and visibility. They can also aid in improving efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance, and prevent delays in the delivery of freight to customers.