The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology
The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for safety regulations for rail and enforcement, as well as funding for rail, and research on improving rail strategies.
FRA field inspectors employ discretion to decide on which cases warrant the exact and lengthy civil penalty process. This discretion helps to ensure that the most serious violations are penalized.
SMART-TD and its allies made history in 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two persons should be allowed to sit in the cabs of freight trains. The fight continues.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration has a range of safety measures in place to safeguard the safety and health of its employees and the general public. It is responsible for developing and enforcing rail safety regulations. It also manages the funding for rail and studies rail improvement strategies and technological developments. It also develops the implementation and maintenance of a plan for maintaining the current rail infrastructure and services. It also develops and improves 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 ensure their safety and success. This includes an anonymous close-call reporting system, establishing labor-management occupational safety and health committees, with full-union participation and antiretaliation provisions and giving employees the necessary personal protective gear.
FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of the rail safety regulations and laws. They conduct routine inspections on equipment and investigate hundreds of complaints. Civil penalties are applied to those who break railroad safety laws. Safety inspectors from the agency are able to decide on the extent to which an individual violation is in line with the statutory definition of a crime that is punishable by civil penalties. In addition the Office of Chief Counsel's security division examines all reports submitted by regional offices to determine legal sufficiency before assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the field and regional levels ensures that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is used only in situations that truly warrant the deterrent effect of a civil fine.
To be guilty of a civil offense, a rail employee must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern the conduct of his or her employees. They must also be aware of and ignore these rules. The agency does not believe that an individual who acts on a supervisor's directive has committed a willful offence. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the entire system that transports passengers and goods between cities and metropolitan areas. fela lawyers of a plant railroad at a steel mill is not considered part of the general transportation system that trains even being 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 manages rail finance, including loans and grants to improve service and infrastructure. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies to improve the rail system of the United States. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services as well as in addition to addressing the need for additional capacity strategically expanding the network, and coordinating national and regional systems planning and development.
The agency is responsible for freight transportation but also oversees passenger transport. The agency aims to connect people to places they'd like to visit and offer more choices for travel. The agency is focused primarily on improving the passenger's experience and enhancing the safety of the existing fleet and ensuring the rail network continues operating efficiently.
Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, including those related to the size of crews on trains. This issue has become a controversial one in recent years, with some states passing legislation to require two-person crews on trains. The final rule codifies the minimum size of crew requirements at an international level, and ensures 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 identify the specifics of each operation and compare them to those of a typical two-person crew operation. Additionally this rule alters the standard of review for the special approval petition from to determining whether an operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining whether the operation would be as safer or more secure than a two-crewmember operation.
During the public comment period on this rule, many people backed the requirement of a two-person crew. A letter written by 29 individuals emphasized 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. Commenters noted that human factors are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger team would ensure the safety of the train as well as its cargo.
Technology
Trains for passenger and freight use various technologies to increase efficiency, enhance security, and improve safety. Rail industry jargon includes many specific 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 vehicle (also called drones).
Technology doesn't just replace some jobs. It helps people perform their jobs better and safer. Passenger railroads are using smartphones and contactless fare payment cards to improve ridership and make the system more efficient. Other innovations like autonomous rail cars are getting closer to becoming reality.
As part of its ongoing effort to improve safe, reliable, and affordable transportation for the nation In its ongoing effort to ensure safe, reliable and affordable transportation for the nation, the Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollar effort that will see tunnels and bridges rebuilt, tracks and power systems upgraded, and stations rebuilt or upgraded. 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 key component of this initiative. The National Academies' recent review of the office concluded that it excelled in keeping in touch with inputs from a wide range of stakeholders. But it still needs to concentrate on how its research helps the department achieve its primary objective of ensuring the safe transportation of goods and people by railway.
One area where the agency could 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 principal industry association for the freight rail industry, which is focused on research policy, standard-setting and policy created an Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to help create standards within the industry.
The FRA is interested in the group's creation of a taxonomy for automated rail vehicles, a system that defines clearly and consistently different levels of automation. This would apply to both rail transit and vehicles on the road. The agency will want to know the amount of risk the industry perceives with fully automated operation, as well as whether the industry is contemplating any additional safeguards to minimize that risk.
Innovation
Railroads are embracing technology to boost worker safety and make business processes more efficient, and ensure that the cargo they move reaches its destination in good condition. These innovations vary from cameras and sensors that monitor freight to innovative railcar designs which keep hazardous cargo safe during transit. Certain of these technologies allow railroads to dispatch emergency personnel directly to the scene of an accident to minimize risk and minimize damages to property and individuals.
One of the most prominent innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC) that will stop collisions between trains and train, situations where trains are on tracks they shouldn't be, and other accidents that result from human errors. It is a three-part process consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train and wayside networks that connect with the locomotive, and a massive backend server that collects and analyzes data.
Trains for passengers are also adopting technology to enhance safety and security. Amtrak for instance, is experimenting with drones to assist train security personnel locate passengers and other items in an emergency. The company is also exploring ways to make use of drones. They could be used to check bridges and other infrastructures or to replace the lights on railway towers that are hazardous for workers to climb.
Other technologies that can be utilized for passenger railroads include smart track technology that can detect the presence of people or objects on the tracks and send out a warning to drivers if it's unsafe to travel. These types of technologies can be particularly 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 yet another significant technological advancement in the railway industry. It allows railways, shippers and other parties to monitor a traincar in real-time. Crews and railcar operators will benefit from increased accountability and visibility which will allow them to increase efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and delay in the delivery of freight.