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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces rail safety regulations, provides rail funding and conducts research on strategies to improve rail infrastructure.

FRA inspectors on the ground employ discretion to decide which cases are worthy of the time-consuming and precise civil penalty process. This helps ensure that the most serious violations are penalized.

Allies and members of SMART-TD 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 employers’ liability act Railroad Administration implements a number of safety measures to protect the health of its employees and public. It develops and enforces regulations for rail safety, administers rail funding and researches strategies for improving rail and technology. It also develops the implementation and maintenance of a plan for maintaining the current infrastructure and services for rail. It also expands and improves strategically the rail network across the nation. The department demands that all rail companies adhere to strict rules that empower their employees and provide them with tools to ensure their safety and success. This includes the confidential close-call reporting system, creating 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 laws and regulations. They conduct regular inspections of equipment and conduct hundreds of investigations of complaints of non-compliance. Civil penalties can be imposed on those who violate rail safety laws. Safety inspectors from the agency have a broad discretion on whether 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 that regional offices submit to ensure they are legal prior to imposing penalties. The exercise of this discretion both at the regional and field levels ensures that the time-consuming, costly civil penalty process is used only in those situations which truly warrant the deterrent effect of a civil penalty.

To be considered guilty of a civil infringement, a rail employee must know the rules and regulations governing the conduct of his or her employees. They also must be aware that they not adhere to these rules. However the agency doesn't take any person who is acting under a direction by a supervisor as having committed an intentional violation. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the entire network that transports passengers and goods within and between cities and metropolitan areas. The trackage of a plant railroad within a steelmill is not considered to be part of the overall rail transportation system, despite the fact that it's physically connected.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, ranging from those related to safety and the movement of hazardous materials. The agency also oversees rail financing which includes loans and grants for infrastructure and service improvements. The agency works with other DOT agencies and industry to devise strategies to improve the nation's rail system. This work includes maintaining existing rail infrastructure and services and in addition to addressing the need for additional capacity strategically expanding the network as well as coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.

While most of the agency's work is focused on freight transportation, it also oversees passenger transportation. The agency is trying to connect people with the destinations they desire and offer more options for travel. The agency is focused on improving the experience for passengers, enhancing the safety of the current fleet, and making sure that the rail network is operating efficiently.

Railroads must comply with many federal regulations, including those related to the size of crews on trains. This issue has become controversial in recent years, with a few states enacting legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. The final rule codifies the minimum crew size requirements at the federal level, making sure that all railroads are subject to the same safety standards.

This law also requires that each railroad operating a one-person crew notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will allow FRA to compare the parameters of each operation with the parameters of a standard two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the review standard of a special approval request from determining whether an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety to determining if the operation is safer or safer than two-person crew operation.

During the time of public comment for this rule, a large number of people voted for a requirement of a two person crew. A letter written by 29 people expressed their concern that a lone crewmember could not be as quick to respond to issues with trains or grade crossing incidents or assist emergency response personnel at a highway rail grade crossing. Commenters noted that human factors are the reason for more than half of all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger team could ensure the safety of the train as well as its cargo.

Technology

Trains for passenger and freight use different technologies to increase efficiency, improve security, and increase safety. Rail industry jargon includes many unique terms and acronyms. Some of the most well-known include machine vision systems (also known as drones), instrumented rail-inspection systems driverless trains, rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicles (also called drones).

Technology isn't just about replacing certain jobs. It empowers people to perform their jobs better and with greater security. Passenger railroads use smartphones apps and contactless fare cards in order to increase ridership and improve the efficiency of their system. Other developments, like autonomous rail vehicles, are moving closer to becoming reality.

As part of its ongoing efforts to improve safe, reliable, and affordable transportation for the entire 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 multi-billion-dollar project 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 expand the agency's rail improvements programs.

The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a key element in this initiative. The most recent National Academies review of the office revealed that it was successful in engaging in a continuous dialogue and utilizing the inputs from a range of stakeholders. It must continue to focus on how its research contributes towards the department's primary goal of ensuring the safe movement of people and goods via railways.

One area where the agency may be able to improve its effectiveness is in identifying and assisting the advancement of automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads, employers’ Liability act fela the main freight rail industry industry organization that focuses on policy, research and standardization the Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to assist in the development of industry standards for the implementation of the technology.

The FRA is interested in the development of a taxonomy for automated rail vehicles which defines clearly and consistently different levels of automation. This could apply to rail transit as well as on-road vehicles. The agency would like to know the amount of risk that the industry sees in fully automated operation, and if the industry is considering any additional safeguards to minimize the risk.

Innovation

Rail companies are adopting new technologies to increase worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes and ensure that the freight they transport is delivered in good condition. These innovations include cameras and sensors that monitor freight to innovative railcar designs which keep hazardous cargo safe during transit. Some of these technologies even offer railroads the ability to dispatch emergency personnel to locations of accidents so they can quickly mitigate the risks to people and property.

Positive Train Control (PTC) is one of the most significant innovations in rail. It can prevent train-to-train accidents, situations when trains are in a position they shouldn't be, and other accidents caused by human errors. This system is a three-part process consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train, wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive, and a massive backend server that analyzes and collects data.

Railroads that transport passengers are also embracing technology to enhance security and safety. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with drones to assist passenger security personnel in finding passengers and items on board trains in case in an emergency. Amtrak is also investigating different ways to use drones, Employers Liability act fela for instance, using drones to inspect bridges as well as other infrastructure, such as replacing the lighting on railway towers that could be hazardous for workers to climb.

Smart track technology is another technology that can be utilized in passenger railroads. It can detect objects or people on tracks and alert motorists that it is not safe to continue. These technologies are particularly useful for detecting unauthorized crossings or other issues in the evenings, when traffic is low and there are fewer witnesses to an accident.

Another significant technological advance 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. Traincar crews and operators can benefit from greater accountability and transparency which can help them increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary maintenance. It will also help reduce delays when delivering freight.