The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology
The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces safety regulations for rail It also provides rail funding and researches rail improvement strategies.
FRA inspectors on the ground employ discretion to decide which cases are worthy of the lengthy and precise civil penalty procedure. This discretion helps ensure that the violations most deserving of punishment are punished.
SMART-TD members and allies made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the locomotive cab of freight trains. The fight continues.
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 regulations for rail safety as well as manages funding for rail and researches rail improvement strategies and new technologies. It also develops and implements a plan to ensure that current infrastructure, services, and capacity, and strategically develops and improves the nation's rail network. The department expects that all rail companies adhere to strict rules that empower their employees and provide them with tools to be safe and successful. This includes taking part in a confidential close-call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational safety and health committees that have full participation from unions and anti-retaliation clauses and providing employees with the needed personal protective equipment.
FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of rail safety regulations and laws. They conduct routine inspections on equipment and investigate complaints from hundreds of people. Civil penalties can be applied to those who break the rail safety laws. The agency's safety inspectors have broad discretion over whether a particular violation meets the statutory definition of a criminal penalty-worthy act. Additionally, the Office of Chief Counsel's safety department examines all reports submitted by regional offices for legality before determining penalties. This discretion is exercised at the field and regional levels to ensure that civil penalties are only used in situations that warrant them.
To be guilty of a civil violation the employee of a rail company must know the rules and regulations that govern their actions. They must also knowingly ignore these rules. 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 network over which goods and passengers travel within cities and metropolitan areas and between them. 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 is physically connected.
Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those related to safety and movement of hazardous materials. The agency oversees rail finance, which includes grants and loan to improve service and infrastructure. The agency works with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies for improving the nation's railroad system. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the needs for additional capacity and expanding the network strategically as well as coordinating the regional and national system's planning and development.
While most of the agency's work is focused on freight transportation, it also oversees passenger transportation. The agency is working to provide more options for passengers and connect people to the places they would like to go. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience, enhancing the safety of the current fleet, and making sure that the railway system continues to function efficiently.
Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, including those pertaining to the size of crews on trains. In recent years, this issue has been a source of contention. Certain states have passed legislation mandating two-person crews on trains. This final rule outlines the minimum crew size requirements at a federal level, ensuring that all railroads are subject to consistent safety standards.
This also requires every railroad that operates a one-person train crew to notify FRA of the operation and submit a risk assessment. This will allow FRA to better identify the specifics of each operation and compare them to those of a typical two-person crew operation. This rule also alters the criteria for reviewing an application for special approval from determining whether an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety standards to determining whether the operation is as safe or more secure than a two-person crew operation.
During the public comment period on this rule, a large number of people backed a two-person crew requirement. In a formal letter 29 people voiced their concern that a single member of the crew is not in a position to respond with the speed required to respond to incidents or train malfunctions at grade crossings or assist emergency personnel on a highway-rail level crossing. Commenters pointed out that human factor are responsible for more than half of all railroad accidents. They believe that a bigger crew could ensure the safety of the train as well as its cargo.
Technology
Freight and passenger rails employ various technologies to increase efficiency, improve safety, and boost security. Rail industry jargon includes a variety of distinct terms and acronyms. Some of the most prominent include machine vision systems (also known as drones), instrumented rail-inspection systems, driverless train rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones).
Technology isn't just replacing certain jobs -- it's empowering people to perform their jobs more efficiently and with greater security. Railroads for passengers use apps on smartphones and contactless fare cards to boost passengership and boost the efficiency of their system. Other developments, like autonomous rail vehicles, are moving closer to becoming reality.
The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve secure reliable, affordable, and cost-effective transportation in the United States is focusing on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This multi-billion-dollar effort will see tunnels, bridges, tracks and power systems updated and stations being rebuilt or replaced. The FRA's rail improvements program will be substantially expanded by the recently passed bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a key part of this initiative. Recent National Academies review of the office revealed that it was successful in engaging, maintaining communication and using inputs of a wide range of stakeholders. It must continue to consider how its research contributes to the department's main goal of ensuring the safety of people and goods via railways.
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 is focused on research and policy, as well as standard setting, established the Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations in order to help develop standards within the industry.
FRA will be interested in the group's creation of an automated rail taxonomy, a standardization system that can clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that would be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will also be looking to know the level of safety risk that the industry perceives associated with implementing fully automated operation and whether or not the industry is considering additional security measures to reduce the risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are adopting new technologies to increase worker safety, boost efficiency in business processes and ensure that the cargo they transport is delivered in good condition. These innovations include cameras and sensors that monitor freight to new railcar designs which keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Some of these technologies even offer railroads the ability to dispatch emergency personnel to locations of accidents so they can swiftly reduce risks to property and people.
One of the most well-known innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC) that will stop collisions between trains and train, situations where trains are on tracks that shouldn't be, and other accidents that are caused by human errors. This system is a three-part system consisting of onboard locomotive systems that track the train and wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a huge backend server that analyzes and collects data.
Trains for passengers are also adopting technology to improve safety and security. Amtrak is one example. It is experimenting with the use of drones to help train security staff locate passengers and items in the event of an emergency. The company is also examining ways to utilize drones. They could be used to inspect bridges and other infrastructure, or to replace the lighting on railway towers that are dangerous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is another technology that can be used in railways for passengers. It can detect objects or people on tracks and alert drivers if it is unsafe to continue. fela lawsuit settlements of technologies can be particularly beneficial in detecting unsafe crossings and other issues during times when traffic is at its lowest and fewer people are around to witness an accident.
Telematics is yet another significant technological advancement in the rail industry. It lets railways, shippers, and other parties to track a traincar in real-time. Railcar operators and crews can benefit from greater accountability and transparency which can help them increase efficiency as well as avoid unnecessary maintenance and reduce delays when delivering freight.