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 researches rail improvement strategies.
FRA inspectors on the ground employ discretion to decide which cases merit the time-consuming and precise civil penalty process. This discretion helps ensure that the violations most deserving of punishment are punished.
Allies and members of SMART-TD made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight is not over.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration implements a number of safety measures to protect the health of employees as well as the public. It develops and enforces safety regulations for rail as well as manages funding for rail and researches strategies for improving rail and new technologies. It also formulates the implementation and maintenance of a plan for maintaining the current infrastructure and services for rail. It also develops and improves the national rail network. The department demands that all rail employers adhere to strict rules, empower their employees and provide them with tools to be secure and productive. This includes participating in a confidential close-call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational safety and health committees that have full union participation and antiretaliation provisions and providing employees with the needed personal protective equipment.
FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct investigations into hundreds of complaints. Anyone who is in violation of rail safety laws may be penalized civilly. The safety inspectors of the agency have a broad discretion on whether a particular violation meets the legal definition of a crime that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also examines all reports that regional offices submit to determine if they are legal before assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the regional and field levels ensures that the lengthy, time-consuming civil penalty process is utilized only in those situations that are truly deserving of the impact of a civil penalty.
Rail employees must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern their actions and be aware of the standards to commit a civil penalty-worthy offense. The agency doesn't consider an individual who acted on a supervisor's directive has committed a willful offence. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the entire system that carries goods and passengers within and between cities and metropolitan areas. The trackage of a plant railroad in a steelmill is not considered to be part of the overall rail transportation system, despite the fact that it is physically connected.
Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing train regulations including those related to safety and the movement of dangerous substances. The agency also manages financing for rail which includes loans and grants for infrastructure and service improvements. The agency works with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies to improve the country's railroad system. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the needs for new capacity and expanding the network strategically, and coordinating regional and national system planning and development.
Although the majority of the agency's work focuses on freight transportation, it also oversees the transportation of passengers. The agency is working to connect people to destinations they desire and offer more alternatives for travel. The agency is focused on improving the passenger experience, improving the safety of the current fleet, and making sure that the railway system continues to function efficiently.
Railroads must comply with a number of federal regulations, which include those relating to the size and composition of crews on trains. In recent times the issue has become controversial. Certain states have passed legislation that requires two-person crews in trains. This final rule outlines the minimum requirements for crew size at an international level, and ensures that all railroads are held to the same safety standards.
This rule also requires each railroad that has a one-person train crew to inform FRA of the operation and submit a risk assessment. This will enable FRA to compare the parameters of each operation with the standard two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the criteria for reviewing a special approval request to determine if an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety standards to determining whether the operation is as secure or more secure than a two-person crew operations.
During the time of public comment for this rule, a number of people voted for a requirement for two people on the crew. In a form letter 29 people voiced their concern that a single crewmember is not in a position to respond with the speed required to respond to train accidents or malfunctions at grade crossings, or assist emergency response personnel on a highway-rail level crossing. Commenters pointed out that human factors are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger crew would ensure the safety of the train and its cargo.
Technology
Freight and passenger rails use a variety of technologies to improve efficiency, improve security, and improve safety. Rail industry jargon comprises various unique terms and acronyms. Some of the most well-known include machine vision systems (also called drones) and rail-inspection systems that are instrumented, driverless train, rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicle (also known as drones).
Technology isn't just replacing certain jobs -- it's empowering people to do their job more effectively and safely. Passenger railroads use smartphones apps and contactless fare cards to increase passengership and boost the efficiency of their system. Other innovations like autonomous rail cars are moving closer to reality.
The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure safe reliable, affordable, and cost-effective transportation in America, is focused on modernizing the rail infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollar effort that will see tunnels and bridges repaired, tracks and power systems upgraded and stations rebuilt or replaced. The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will substantially grow the agency's rail improvement programs.
The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a central piece in this initiative. The National Academies' recent review of the office found that it excelled at engaging, maintaining communications with inputs from a wide range of stakeholders. It must continue to focus on how its research contributes towards the department's main goal of ensuring the safety of people and goods via rail.
The agency could increase its effectiveness by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the principal industry association for the freight rail industry that is focused on research policy, standard-setting and policy, established an Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations in order to help create standards within the industry.
FRA will be interested in the group's creation of an automated rail taxonomy, which is a standardization system that can clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that will be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will also want to know the level of risk to safety that the industry sees with implementing fully automated operation and whether the industry is contemplating additional security measures to reduce the risk.
Innovation
Railroads are embracing technology to boost worker safety and improve business processes. efficient and help ensure that the cargo they move reaches its destination in good condition. These innovations vary from cameras and sensors that monitor freight to new railcar designs which keep hazardous cargo safe during transit. Some of these technologies enable railroads to send emergency responders directly to sites of accidents to minimize the risk and minimize damage to property and people.
Positive Train Control (PTC) is one of the most important innovations in rail. It will keep train-to-train accidents out of the way, as well as situations where trains are on track they shouldn't be, and other accidents caused by human error. This system is made up of three parts consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train; wayside networks which communicate with the locomotive; and a massive server that analyzes and collects data.
Trains for passengers also adopt technology to enhance safety and security. fela railroad accident lawyer , for example, is testing the use of drones to assist train security personnel locate passengers and items in the event of an emergency. Amtrak is also investigating other ways to use drones, including deploying drones to inspect bridges as well as other infrastructure, like replacing the lights on railway towers, which can be hazardous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is another technology that can be used in passenger railroads. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and notify motorists that it is not safe to continue. These technologies are particularly useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized or other problems in the evenings when traffic is less and there are fewer witnesses to an accident.
Another important technological breakthrough in the railway industry is telematics which allows shippers, railroads and other stakeholders to view the status and condition of a traincar by real-time tracking. Traincar crews and operators can benefit from increased accountability and visibility which will allow them to improve efficiency as well as avoid unnecessary maintenance and delay in the delivery of freight.