The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology
The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces safety regulations for rail The Federal Railroad Administration also provides funding for rail and conducts research on strategies to improve rail infrastructure.
FRA field inspectors employ discretion to decide which cases are worthy of the precise and lengthy civil penalty process. This discretion helps ensure that those violations most deserving of punishment are penalized.
SMART-TD and its allies created history in 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two people should be in the cabs 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 formulates and enforces regulations for rail safety as well as manages funding for rail and researches strategies for improving rail and technologies. It also formulates, implements and maintains plans for the maintenance of the current rail infrastructure and services. It also works to expand and improve the rail network across the nation. The department expects all rail employers to adhere to the strictest rules and regulations, and empower their employees and provide them with the tools to be successful and safe. This includes taking part in the confidential close-call reporting system, establishing occupational health and safety committees with full participation from unions and protection against retaliation and providing employees with the necessary personal safety equipment.
FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct a multitude of investigations into complaints of noncompliance. Civil penalties may be applied to those who break the rail safety laws. The agency's safety inspectors are able to decide on the extent to which a particular violation meets the legal definition of a civil penalty-worthy act. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also examines the reports that regional offices submit to ensure they are legal prior to imposing penalties. This discretion is exercised at both the regional and field levels to ensure that civil penalties are only used in situations that warrant them.
To be guilty of a civil offense an employee of a railroad must be aware of the rules and regulations governing their actions. They must also knowingly disregard these standards. However the agency does not take any person who follows a directive from a supervisor to have committed an intentional violation. 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 is not considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, even though it's physically connected.
Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible to establish regulations for train operations including those related to safety and the movement of dangerous substances. The agency also manages financing for rail including loans and grants for infrastructure and improvements to service. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies for improving the nation's rail infrastructure. This includes maintaining current rail services and infrastructure and making sure that there is enough capacity strategically expanding the network as well as coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.
The agency is responsible for freight transportation but also manages passenger transportation. The agency is working to connect people to the destinations they desire and offer more alternatives for travel. The agency is focused on improving the experience for passengers, enhancing the safety of the current fleet, and ensuring that the railway system continues to function efficiently.
Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, including those related to the size of the crews on trains. In recent times this issue has become controversial. Certain states have passed legislation that requires two-person teams on trains. This final rule outlines the minimum crew size requirements at a federal level, ensuring that all railroads are subject to the same safety standards.
This also requires every railroad that operates one-person train crews to inform FRA of the operation and submit a risk assessment. This will allow FRA to identify the specific parameters of each operation and compare them to the typical two-person crew operation. This rule also alters the standard for reviewing an application for special approval from determining if an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety to determining if the operation is as safe or less risky than a two-person crew operation.
During the time of public comments for this rule, a number of people voted for a requirement for two persons on the crew. A form letter sent by 29 people expressed their concern that a single crew member would not be as quick to respond to train malfunctions or grade crossing incidents or assist emergency responders at a highway-rail grade crossing. Commenters emphasized that human factors are responsible for more than half of all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger crew could ensure the security of the train as well as its cargo.
Technology
Freight and passenger rails employ different technologies to improve efficiency, enhance security, and improve safety. The language used in the rail industry contains a myriad of distinct terms and acronyms but some of the more significant developments include machines-vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains rolling data centers and drones that are not piloted (commonly known as drones).
Technology isn't just replacing certain jobs, it's also empowering individuals to perform their work more effectively and safely. Railroads for passengers use apps on smartphones and contactless fare cards in order to increase ridership and improve the efficiency of their system. fela lawsuits , like autonomous rail vehicles, are inching closer to reality.
The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve secure, reliable, and affordable transportation in America, is focused on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This multi-billion-dollar project will see bridges, tunnels, tracks and power systems upgraded and stations being rebuilt or replaced. The FRA's rail improvement program will be greatly expanded by the recently passed bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a key component of this initiative. The National Academies' recent review of the office revealed that it was successful in engaging, maintaining communications using inputs from a broad range of stakeholders. However, it needs to focus more on how its research helps the department achieve its primary strategic goal of ensuring safe movement of goods and people via railway.
One area in which the agency might be able to improve its effectiveness is in identifying and supporting the advancement of automated train technology and systems. The Association of American Railroads (AAR), the primary industry association for the freight rail industry that focuses on research and policy, as well as standard setting created the Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to help establish standards for the industry.
The FRA is interested in the creation of a taxonomy for automated rail vehicles which defines clearly and consistently the different levels of automation. This could apply to rail transit as well as vehicles on the road. The agency will want to know the amount of risk the industry perceives with fully automated operation, and whether the industry is contemplating any additional measures to mitigate that risk.
Innovation
Railroads are using technology to increase worker safety, make business processes more efficient and ensure that the cargo that they transport arrives at its destination safely. Examples of this innovations include the use of sensors and cameras to monitor freight, to new railcar designs that help keep hazardous cargo safe during transit. Certain of these technologies allow railroads to dispatch emergency personnel directly to accident sites to minimize the risk and damage to property and people.
One of the most renowned innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC), which will inhibit train-to-train collisions, situations where trains are on tracks that shouldn't be, and other accidents resulting from human error. The system is comprised 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.
Trains for passengers are also adopting technology to improve safety and security. Amtrak for instance, is testing the use of drones to help train security personnel find passengers and other items in an emergency. The company is also exploring other possibilities to utilize drones, such as using drones to conduct inspections of bridges as well as other infrastructure, like replacing the lighting on railway towers that could be dangerous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is a different technology that can be used in railways for passengers. It can detect objects or people on tracks and warn drivers that it is unsafe to continue. These technologies are especially effective in detecting unsafe crossings or other issues in the evenings when the traffic is lower and there are less witnesses to an accident.
Another important technological breakthrough in the rail industry is telematics which enables railroads, shippers and other stakeholders to see the condition and status of a traincar by real-time tracking. Such capabilities give railcar operators and their crews more accountability and transparency and help them improve efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays in the delivery of freight to customers.