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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces safety regulations for rail It also provides rail funding and studies strategies for improving rail safety.

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

Allies and members of SMART-TD made history in 2024 when they began pushing the FRA to ensure that two people are in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight is not over.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration has a range of safety measures in place to ensure the health and safety of its employees and the general public. It is responsible for developing and enforcing rail safety regulations. It also administers the funding for rail and conducts research on rail improvement strategies and technological developments. It also develops plans, implements and maintains plans for the maintenance of the current infrastructure and services for rail. It also works to expand and improve the rail network across the nation. The department requires that all rail operators adhere to strict guidelines and empower their employees, and provide them with tools to be secure and productive. This includes participating in the confidential close call reporting system, setting up occupational health and safety committees that have full participation from unions and anti-retaliation protections and providing employees with the necessary personal protection equipment.

FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of the rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct a myriad of investigations of complaints of non-compliance. Civil penalties can be imposed on those who violate the rail safety laws. Safety inspectors at the agency have a wide discretion to determine whether an act is within the statutory definition of an offense that is punishable with civil penalties. Additionally the Office of Chief Counsel's security division examines all reports submitted from regional offices to determine their legality before determining penalties. This discretion is exercised both at the regional and field levels to ensure that civil penalties are only applied when they are necessary.

A rail employee must be aware of rules and regulations that govern his actions, and not knowingly violate those standards to commit a civil penalty-worthy offense. The agency doesn't consider that an individual who acts in response to a supervisor's direction is guilty of committing a willful crime. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the entire network that carries goods and passengers within and between cities and metropolitan areas. The trackage of a plant railroad at the steel mill isn't considered to be part of the overall rail system of transportation even though it is physically connected to it.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those related to safety and movement of hazardous materials. The agency manages railway finance, including loans and grants to improve service and infrastructure. The agency works with other DOT agencies and with industry to devise strategies to improve the nation's railroad system. This includes maintaining current rail infrastructure and services as well as making sure that there is enough capacity, strategically expanding the network and coordinating national and regional systems planning and development.

While the majority of the agency's activities are focused on freight transportation, it also manages passenger transportation. The agency is working to offer more options for passengers and connect people with the places they want to go. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience, improving the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring the rail network continues to operate efficiently.

Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, including those related to the size of crews on trains. In recent times the issue has become a source of controversy. Some states have passed legislation mandating two-person crews on trains. This final rule codifies the minimum crew size requirements at a federal level, ensuring that all railroads are held to the same safety standards.

This law also requires that each railroad operating with a crew of one notify FRA and submit a risk analysis. This will allow FRA to identify the specific parameters of each operation and compare them with the parameters of a normal two-person crew operation. Additionally this rule will change the criteria for reviewing an approval petition that is based on determining whether an operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining whether the operation would be as safe or safer than an operation with two crew members.

During the public comment period for this rule, many people backed the requirement for a two-person crew. A form letter sent by 29 individuals emphasized their concerns that a single crew member would not be as quick to respond to train malfunctions or grade crossing incidents, or assist emergency response personnel at a highway rail grade crossing. Commenters pointed out that human factors are responsible for more than half of all railroad accidents. They believe that a bigger crew would ensure the safety of the train as well as its cargo.

Technology

Trains for passenger and freight use various technologies to improve efficiency, increase safety, and boost security. Rail industry jargon comprises many specific terms and acronyms. Some of the most well-known include machine vision systems (also called 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 helping individuals to perform their work more efficiently and with greater security. Passenger railroads use smartphones apps and contactless fare cards to boost ridership and increase the efficiency of their system. Other developments, like autonomous rail vehicles, are moving closer to reality.

As part of its ongoing effort to advance safe, reliable, and affordable transportation options for the country, the Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This multi-billion-dollar effort will see bridges, tunnels tracks, power systems and tracks updated and stations being rebuilt or replaced. FRA's recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will dramatically increase the agency's rail improvement programs.

The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a key component of this initiative. Recent National Academies review of the office revealed that it was successful in engaging, maintaining communication and using inputs of a wide range of stakeholders. But it must concentrate on how its research aids in the department's main strategic goal of ensuring the safe transportation of goods and people via railway.

The agency could increase its efficiency by identifying and supporting automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads, the main freight rail industry industry organization that focuses on policy, research and standardization and has created a Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to assist in the development of industry standards to implement the technology.

The FRA is interested in the development of a taxonomy for automated rail vehicles, a system that defines clearly and consistently the different levels of automation. This could apply to both rail transit and on-road vehicles. The agency will want to know the degree of risk that the industry perceives with fully automated operation, and if the industry is considering any additional safeguards to reduce that risk.

Innovation

Rail companies are adopting new technologies to improve worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes and ensure that the freight they transport reaches its destination in good condition. Examples of this kind of innovation include the use of cameras and sensors to monitor freight, to new railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo secure during transit. Some of these technologies allow railroads to send emergency responders to locations of accidents so they can swiftly mitigate damage and fela Claims railroad employees reduce the risk to property and people.

Positive Train Control (PTC) is one of the most significant developments in rail. It will stop train-to-train accidents, instances when trains are in a position they shouldn't and other accidents caused by human error. The system is comprised of three components of onboard locomotive systems that track the train; wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a huge server that collects and analyses data.

Passenger railroads also embrace technology to improve security and safety. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with the use of drones to assist security personnel in locating passengers and other items aboard trains in the event in an emergency. The company is also examining ways to make use of drones. They could be used to check bridges and other infrastructures or to replace the lighting on railway towers, which are dangerous for workers to climb.

Smart track technology is a different technology that can be used in railways that transport passengers. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and alert drivers that it is unsafe to continue. These technologies are especially useful for detecting unauthorized crossings or other issues in the evenings when traffic is less and there are fewer witnesses to an accident.

Another significant technological advance in the railway industry is telematics which enables railroads, shippers and other stakeholders to view a traincar's status and condition via real-time tracking. Crews and railcar operators can benefit from increased accountability and transparency, which will help them improve efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and delay in the delivery of freight.