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 employ 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 of punishment are penalized.
Members of SMART-TD and their allies made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the locomotive cab of freight trains. The fight is not over.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration implements a variety of safety measures to safeguard the health of employees as well as the public. It is responsible for developing and enforcing regulations for rail safety. It also administers rail funding and conducts research on rail improvement strategies and technologies. It also creates plans, implements and maintains plans for the maintenance of the current infrastructure and services for rail. It also expands and improves strategically the national rail network. The department demands that all rail operators adhere to strict regulations that empower their employees and provide them with tools to be safe and successful. This includes taking part in an anonymous close-call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational safety and health committees, with full-union participation and antiretaliation provisions and providing employees with the required personal protective equipment.
FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct regular inspections of equipment and conduct a multitude of investigations of complaints of non-compliance. Anyone who violates the rail safety laws could be subject to civil penalties. Safety inspectors at the agency have a broad discretion to determine if a violation falls under the statutory definition of an offense that is punishable with civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel’s safety division also examines the reports submitted by regional offices to determine if they are legal before assessing penalties. This discretion is exercised at both the field and regional levels to ensure that civil penalties are only applied in situations that warrant them.
To be convicted of a civil offense an employee of a railroad must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern the conduct of his or her employees. They must also knowingly disregard these standards. The agency does not believe an individual who acted upon a directive from a supervisor has committed a willful offence. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the whole network that allows passengers and goods to travel within metropolitan and city areas and between them. The trackage of a plant railroad in the steel mill isn't considered to be part of the general transportation system that trains even although it is physically connected to it.
Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those related to safety and the movement of hazardous materials. The agency oversees rail finance, including grants and loan for service and infrastructure improvement. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and the industry to develop strategies to improve the nation's railway system. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the needs for capacity expansion, expanding the network strategically, and coordinating regional and national system's development and planning.
Although the majority of the agency's activities are focused on freight transportation, it also manages the transportation of passengers. The agency is working to provide 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 and enhancing the safety of the current fleet, and ensuring that the railway system continues to function efficiently.
Railroads must comply with a number of federal regulations, which include the ones pertaining to the size and composition of train crews. This issue has become a controversial one in recent years, with some states enacting legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. The final rule codifies the minimum requirements for crew size at the federal level, making sure that all railroads are subject to the same safety standards.
This rule also requires that each railroad operating a one-person crew notify FRA and submit a risk analysis. This will allow FRA to better understand the specific parameters of each operation and compare them to the parameters of a typical two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the standard for reviewing a special approval request from determining if an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety, to determining if the operation is as safe or more secure than a two-person crew operation.
During the period of public comments for this rule, a 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 single crew member might 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 are responsible for more than half of railroad accidents and they think that a bigger crew would help ensure the safety of the train and its cargo.
Technology
Freight and passenger rails employ various technologies to increase efficiency, enhance safety, and boost security. Rail industry jargon comprises a variety of specific 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 vehicles (also called drones).
Technology isn't just replacing certain jobs -- it's empowering people to do their job better and safer. Passenger railroads are using smartphones apps and contactless fare payment cards to improve ridership and make the system more efficient. Other innovations such as autonomous rail cars are moving closer to becoming reality.
The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote safe reliable, affordable, and cost-effective transportation in the United States is focusing on modernizing the rail infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollar initiative that will see bridges and tunnels restored, tracks and power systems upgraded and stations rebuilt or replaced. The FRA's rail improvements program will be significantly increased by the recently approved bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a major piece in this initiative. The most recent National Academies review of the office found that it excelled in engaging, maintaining communication and using inputs from a variety of stakeholders. It must continue to be aware of how its research contributes to the department's primary objective of ensuring safe movement of goods and people by railways.
One area where the agency may be able improve its effectiveness is in identifying and supporting the development of automated train technology and systems. 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 a Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to help establish standards for the industry.
FRA is likely to be interested in the development of an automated rail taxonomy, which is a standard that will clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that could be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will want to know the degree of risk the industry perceives with fully automated operation, and whether the industry is considering any additional safeguards to reduce the risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are embracing technology to increase worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes and ensure that the cargo they transport is delivered in good condition. Examples of this technological advancement range from the use of cameras and sensors to monitor freight, to new railcar designs that help keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Certain of these technologies enable railroads to send emergency responders directly to sites of accidents to minimize risk and damage to people and property.
Positive Train Control (PTC) is among the most significant developments in rail. It will stop train-to-train accidents, instances where trains are on track they shouldn't, and other incidents caused by human error. This system is a three-part process consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train, wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a massive backend server that analyzes and collects data.
Passenger railroads are also embracing technology to bolster safety and security. Amtrak, for example, is experimenting with drones to help security personnel on trains locate passengers and other items in the event of an emergency. The company is also looking into other ways to use drones, such as using drones to conduct inspections of bridges and other infrastructure such as replacing the lights on railway towers, which can be hazardous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is a different technology that can be used in passenger railroads. It can detect objects or people on tracks and warn drivers if it is unsafe to continue. fela claims of technology are especially beneficial in detecting unsafe crossings as well as other issues that can arise during off-hours, when traffic levels are lower and there are fewer people around to witness an accident.
Another important technological advancement in the rail industry is telematics which allows railroads, shippers and other stakeholders to monitor the condition and status of a traincar through real-time tracking. Traincar crews and operators can benefit from increased accountability and visibility, which will help them improve efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and delay in the delivery of freight.