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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

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

FRA inspectors on the ground make use of discretion to decide which cases merit the lengthy and precise civil penalty procedure. This discretion helps to ensure that the most serious violations are penalized.

SMART-TD and its allies made history by 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two people should be allowed to sit in the locomotive cabs of freight trains. The fight isn't over.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration implements a number of safety measures to safeguard the health of its employees and public. It formulates and enforces safety regulations for rail and oversees the funding for rail. It also researches rail improvement strategies and technologies. It also creates and implements a strategy to ensure that current infrastructure, rail services and capacity, and strategically expands and improves the nation's rail network. The department requires that all rail companies adhere to strict rules, empower their employees and provide them with tools to be safe and successful. This includes participating in the confidential close call reporting system, establishing occupational health and safety committees with full union participation and anti-retaliation safeguards, and providing employees with needed personal safety equipment.

FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of the rail safety regulations and laws. They perform routine inspections on equipment and conduct investigations into hundreds of complaints. Civil penalties can be applied to those who break rail safety laws. The safety inspectors of the agency are able to decide on the extent to which an individual violation is in line with the statutory definition of a crime that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also scrutinizes all reports submitted by regional offices to determine if they are legal before assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion both at the regional and field levels helps ensure that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is applied only in those situations that truly warrant the deterrent effect of a civil fine.

Rail employees must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern his or her actions and be aware of the guidelines to commit a criminal offense that is punishable by a civil penalty. However the agency does not consider any individual who acts under a directive by a supervisor as having committed an intentional violation. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the whole network that transports passengers and goods 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, even though it is physically connected.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible to establish regulations for train operations, such as those relating to safety and the movement of hazardous substances. The agency manages rail finance, including grants and loan for service and infrastructure improvement. The agency works with other DOT agencies and with industry to develop strategies for improving the country's railroad system. This work includes maintaining current rail services and infrastructure as well as making sure that there is enough capacity, strategically expanding the network and coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.

While the majority of the agency's work focuses on freight transportation, it also manages passenger transportation. The agency aims to connect people with the places they want and provide more choices for travel. The agency is focused on improving the passenger experience and improving the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring that the railway system continues to function efficiently.

Railroads must comply with a number of federal regulations, including those that deal with the size and composition of the train crews. In recent years, this issue has become a source of controversy. Some states have passed legislation that requires two-person crews in trains. This final rule defines federally the minimum size of crew requirements, ensuring that all railroads follow the same safety standards.

This rule also requires each railroad operating a single-person train crew to notify FRA of the operation and submit an assessment of risk. This will allow FRA to identify the specifics of each operation and compare them to the parameters of a normal two-person crew operation. In addition, this rule changes the criteria for reviewing the special approval petition from to determining whether an operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining if approving the operation would be as safe or safer than a two-crewmember operation.

During the time of public comment on this rule, a large number of people expressed their support for a requirement for two persons on the crew. A form letter sent by 29 individuals emphasized their concerns that a lone crewmember could not be as quick to respond to train malfunctions or grade crossing incidents, or assist emergency responders at a highway-rail grade crossing. Commenters emphasized that human factors are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger team will ensure the safety of the train as well as its cargo.

Technology

Railroads for passenger and freight use a wide array of technologies to enhance efficiency, improve safety, boost security and more. Rail industry jargon covers a variety of unique terms and acronyms. Some of the most prominent include machine vision systems (also called drones) and rail-inspection systems that are instrumented driverless trains rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones).

Technology doesn't just replace some jobs. It allows people to do their jobs better and with greater security. Railroads for passengers use apps on smartphones and contactless fare cards to boost ridership and increase the efficiency of their system. Other innovations like autonomous rail cars are getting closer to becoming reality.

As part of its ongoing efforts to advance secure, reliable and affordable transportation for the nation, the Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollar project that will see tunnels and bridges restored as well as tracks and power systems upgraded and stations rebuilt or replaced. The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will significantly increase the agency's rail improvement programs.

The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a major component of this effort. The National Academies' recent review of the office concluded that it excelled at keeping in touch with inputs from a wide range of stakeholders. It is still required to be aware of how its research contributes towards the department's primary goal of ensuring safe movement of people and goods via railways.

One area in which the agency could be able improve its effectiveness is by identifying and assisting the development of automated train technology and systems. employers’ liability act fela of American Railroads (AAR) is the main industry association for the freight rail industry, which is focused on research and policy, as well as standard setting created an Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations in order to help develop standards within the industry.

FRA will be interested in the development of an automated rail taxonomy. It is a system of standards to clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that will be applicable to both rail and on-road transit vehicles. The agency will also want to know the level of risk to safety that the industry believes is associated with implementing fully automated operation and whether or not the industry is contemplating additional safeguards to mitigate that risk.

Innovation





Railroads are adopting technology to increase worker safety and make business processes more efficient, and ensure that the cargo it transports arrives at its destination in good condition. These innovations range from sensors and cameras that monitor freight to innovative railcar designs that help keep dangerous cargo safe during transport. Certain of these technologies allow railroads to send emergency response personnel to the scene of an accident so they can swiftly mitigate risks to property and people.

One of the most well-known innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC), which will inhibit train-to-train collisions, situations where trains are on tracks where they shouldn't be, as well as other accidents that result from human error. The system is a three-part system comprised of onboard locomotive systems that track the train and wayside networks that connect with the locomotive, and an enormous backend server that gathers and analyzes data.

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

Smart track technology is a different technology that can be utilized in railways for passengers. It can detect people or objects on tracks and alert drivers if it is unsafe to continue. These technologies are particularly useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized or other issues in the evenings, when traffic is low 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 condition and status of a traincar through real-time tracking. Traincar crews and operators can benefit from increased accountability and transparency which can help them to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary maintenance. It will also help delay in the delivery of freight.