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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

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

FRA field inspectors employ discretion to determine which cases merit the precise and lengthy civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that those violations most deserving of punishment are penalized.

SMART-TD members and allies made history in 2024 when they began pushing the FRA to ensure that two people are in the locomotive cab of freight trains. The fight isn't over.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration implements a number of safety measures to safeguard the health of employees and public. It creates and enforces regulations for rail safety as well as manages funding for rail and researches rail improvement strategies and technology. It also develops, implements and maintains plans for the maintenance of the current rail infrastructure and services. It also expands and improves strategically the rail network across the nation. The department requires all rail companies to adhere to the strictest rules and regulations, empower their workers and provide them with the tools needed to be successful and secure. This includes participating in the confidential close-call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational safety and health committees, with full union participation and antiretaliation provisions and providing employees with the required personal protective equipment.

FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of the rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and investigate hundreds of complaints. Those who violate rail safety laws may be penalized civilly. The safety inspectors of the agency have a broad discretion on whether an individual violation is in line with the statutory definition of a civil penalty-worthy employers’ liability act fela. The Office of Chief Counsel’s safety division also examines all reports submitted by regional offices to ensure they are legal before assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at both the regional and field levels ensures that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is utilized only in those situations that are truly deserving of the effect of a civil penalty.

A rail employee must be aware of rules and regulations that govern their actions and knowingly disregard those guidelines to commit a criminal offense that is punishable by a civil penalty. However, the agency does not consider anyone who follows a directive from a supervisor as having committed an intentional violation. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the entire system that allows passengers and goods to travel within cities and metropolitan areas, or between them. The trackage of a plant railroad in a steelmill is not considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, even though it's physically connected.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, ranging from those related to safety and movement of hazardous materials. The agency manages rail finance, including loans and grants for service and infrastructure improvement. The agency works with other DOT agencies as well as industry to develop strategies for improving the rail system of the United States. This includes maintaining the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the need for capacity expansion and expanding the network strategically, as well as coordinating the regional and national system planning and development.

Although the majority of the agency's work focuses on freight transportation, it also manages the transportation of passengers. The agency is trying to connect people with the places they want and provide more alternatives for travel. The agency's focus is on improving the passenger's experience and enhancing the safety of the current fleet, and making sure that the rail network continues operating efficiently.

Railroads must comply with many federal regulations, including those pertaining to the size of the crews on trains. This is controversial in recent years, with several states passing legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule codifies federally the minimum crew size requirements, ensuring that all railroads follow the same safety standards.

This law also requires that each railroad operating with a crew of one notify FRA and submit a risk analysis. This will allow FRA to better understand the specifics of each operation and compare them with those of a normal two-person crew operation. This rule also alters the criteria for reviewing 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 public comment period for this rule, a lot of people backed the requirement for a two-person crew. In a letter to the editor 29 people expressed their concern that a single crewmember is not capable of responding as quickly to incidents or train malfunctions at grade crossings, or assist emergency response personnel at a highway-rail level crossing. Commenters noted that human factors are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents. They believe that a bigger crew will ensure the safety of the train as well as its cargo.

Technology

Railroads that transport passengers and freight employ numerous technologies to increase efficiency, improve security, increase safety and much more. Rail industry jargon covers a variety of unique terms and acronyms. Some of the most well-known include machine vision systems (also known as drones) instruments for rail-inspection systems driverless trains rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicle (also known as drones).

Technology isn't just about replacing certain jobs. It allows people to perform their jobs more effectively and safer. Passenger railroads are using smartphones apps and contactless fare payment cards to increase ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other innovations, like autonomous rail vehicles, are moving closer to becoming a reality.

The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote secure, reliable, and affordable transportation in America, is focused on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollar project that will see tunnels and bridges repaired, tracks and power systems upgraded, and stations reconstructed or upgraded. FRA's recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure law will significantly expand the agency's rail improvements programs.

The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a crucial part of this initiative. The National Academies' recent review of the office revealed that it excelled in engaging, maintaining communication with and using inputs from a wide range of stakeholders. It must continue to consider how its research contributes to the department's primary goal of ensuring the safe movement of people and goods by railways.

The agency could enhance its effectiveness by identifying and supporting automated train systems and technology. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the main industry association for the freight rail industry, Federal Employers which focuses on research, employers’ liability Act Fela policy and standard setting and has established a Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations in order to help establish standards for the industry.

The FRA is interested in the group’s development of a taxonomy for automated rail vehicles, a system that defines clearly and consistently different levels of automation. This could apply to both rail transit and vehicles on the road. The agency will also be looking to understand the level of risk to safety that the industry sees with the introduction of fully automated operation and whether or not the industry is considering adding additional security measures to reduce the risk.

Innovation

Railroads are adopting technology to increase worker safety and improve business processes. efficient and help ensure that the freight they move reaches its destination in good condition. Examples of this innovations include the use of sensors and cameras to track freight, to the latest railcar designs that help keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Certain of these technologies allow railroads to dispatch emergency personnel directly to accident sites to reduce the risk and damages to property and individuals.

One of the most prominent innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC) which will prevent collisions between trains and trains, situations in which trains are on tracks where they shouldn't be and other accidents resulting from human errors. The system is comprised of three components: onboard locomotive systems which track the train; wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a massive server that collects and analyses data.

Passenger railroads also embrace technology to improve safety and security. Amtrak for instance, is experimenting with drones to help train security personnel locate passengers and items in the event of an emergency. Amtrak is also looking into ways to utilize drones. They could be used to check bridges and other infrastructure or to replace the lights on railway towers that are hazardous for workers to climb.

Other technologies that could be utilized for railways for passengers include smart track technology, which is able to detect the presence of objects or people on the tracks and send out an alert to drivers when it's unsafe to travel. These kinds of technology are especially valuable for detecting unauthorized crossings as well as other issues that can arise in the off-hours, when traffic is at its lowest and there are fewer people to witness an accident.

Telematics is another important technological advance in the rail industry. It allows railways, shippers and other parties to monitor a traincar in real-time. Crews and railcar operators can benefit from increased accountability and visibility which will allow them to increase efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays when delivering freight.