5 Killer Quora Answers To Federal Railroad > 자유게시판

The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

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

FRA field inspectors make use of discretion to determine which cases warrant the exact and lengthy civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that the violations most deserving of punishment are punished.

Allies and members of SMART-TD have made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to keep two people in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight continues.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration has a range of safety measures in place to ensure the health and safety of employees as well as the general public. It develops and enforces rail safety regulations and oversees the funding for rail. It also studies strategies for improving rail infrastructure and technology. It also develops and implements a plan to ensure the current infrastructure, rail services and capacity, and strategically expands and enhances the national rail network. The department demands that all rail employers liability act fela adhere to strict regulations and empower their employees, and provide them with the tools to ensure their safety and success. This includes participation in the confidential close-call reporting system, setting up occupational health and safety committees that have full union participation, as well as protection against retaliation and providing employees with personal protection equipment.

FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of rail safety regulations and laws. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct a multitude of investigations of complaints of non-compliance. Anyone who is in violation of the safety rules for rail can be penalized civilly. Safety inspectors from the agency are able to decide on the extent to which an incident falls within the legal definition of a crime that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also examines the reports submitted by regional offices to determine if they are legal prior to imposing penalties. This discretion is exercised at the field and regional levels to ensure that civil penalties are only used when they are necessary.

To be convicted of a civil offense the employee of a rail company must know the rules and regulations that govern the conduct of his or her employees. They must also knowingly not adhere to these rules. However the agency does not consider anyone who is acting under a direction from a supervisor as having committed a willful violation. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the entire network that transports passengers and goods between cities and metropolitan areas. The trackage of a plant railroad within the steelmill isn't considered to be part of the overall rail transportation system, even though it's physically connected.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those pertaining to safety and movement of hazardous materials. The agency oversees rail finance, including loans and grants for service and infrastructure improvement. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies as well as industry to devise strategies to improve the rail system of the United States. This includes ensuring the current rail services and infrastructure, making sure that there is enough capacity and strategically expanding the network and coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.

The agency is primarily responsible for freight transportation but also manages passenger transportation. The agency is working to provide more options for passengers and connect passengers with the places they want to travel to. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience and increasing the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring the rail network continues to operate efficiently.

Railroads must comply with many federal regulations, including those pertaining to the size of crews on trains. This issue has become an issue of contention in recent years, with some states enacting legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule establishes federally the minimum crew size requirements, ensuring that all railroads follow the same safety standards.

This rule also requires that every railroad operating with a crew of one notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will allow FRA to better understand the specifics of each operation and compare them with those of a standard two-person crew operation. In addition this rule alters the review standard for the special approval petition from determining whether the operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining whether approving the operation is safer or more secure than a two-crewmember operation.

During the period of public comments for this rule, a lot of people voiced their support for a requirement of two people on the crew. In a letter to the editor 29 people voiced their concerns that a single crewmember will not be able to respond with the speed required to respond to incidents or train malfunctions at grade crossings, or assist emergency personnel on an elevated highway crossing. The commenters emphasized that human factors account for more than half of railroad accidents, and they believe that a larger crew will ensure the safety of the train and the cargo it transports.

Technology

Trains for passenger and freight use a variety of technologies to increase efficiency, enhance safety, and boost security. The language used in the rail industry includes many unique terms and acronyms, however, some of the most notable developments include machines-vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly called drones).

Technology isn't just replacing some jobs; it's helping people to do their job better and safer. Passenger railroads use smartphones apps and contactless fare cards to increase ridership and increase the efficiency of their system. Other innovations like autonomous rail cars are coming closer to becoming reality.

As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure secure, reliable and affordable transportation for the entire nation The Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollar effort that will see bridges and tunnels repaired tracks, power systems and tracks upgraded and stations rebuilt or upgraded. FRA's recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will significantly expand the agency's rail improvements programs.

The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a key component in this initiative. Recent National Academies review of the office found it excelled at engaging with, maintaining communication and utilizing inputs from a variety of stakeholders. However, it needs to be more focused on how its research aids in the department's main strategic goal of ensuring safe transportation of goods and people by railway.

The agency could enhance its efficiency by identifying and supporting automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the principal industry association for the freight rail industry that focuses on research and policy, as well as standard setting, established an Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to assist in helping establish standards for the industry.

FRA is likely to be interested in the group's development of an automated rail taxonomy, a standard that will clearly and consistently define the different levels of automation that could be applicable to both rail and on-road transit vehicles. The agency will also need to know the degree of risk to safety that the industry perceives associated when implementing a fully automated system and whether the industry is contemplating additional protections to minimize the risk.

Innovation

Railroads are using technology to increase worker safety and make business processes more efficient and help ensure that the cargo it transports arrives at its destination in good condition. Examples of such innovations range from the use of sensors and cameras to monitor freight, to new railcar designs that help keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Certain of these technologies provide a way for railroads to send emergency response personnel to areas of accidents so that they can swiftly mitigate damage and reduce the risk to property and lives.

One of the most prominent innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC), which will inhibit collisions between trains and trains, situations in which trains are on tracks they shouldn't be, as well as other accidents resulting from human mistakes. The system is a three-part system consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train and wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive, and a massive backend server that analyzes and collects data.

Trains for passengers are also adopting technology to bolster safety and security. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with the use of drones to assist passenger security staff in locating passengers and other items aboard trains in case in an emergency. The company is also examining ways to make use of drones. They could be used to examine bridges and other infrastructure, or to replace the lights on railway towers that are dangerous for workers to climb.

Smart track technology is a different technology that can be used in railways for passengers. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and alert drivers that it is unsafe to continue. These types of technologies can be particularly useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized and other issues during off-hours, when traffic volumes are lowest and fewer people are around to witness an accident.

Telematics is another important technological advancement in the railway industry. It lets railways, shippers, and other stakeholders to monitor a traincar in real-time. These capabilities provide railcar operators and crews greater control and visibility. They can also help them improve efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and reduce delays in delivering freight to customers.