The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology
The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for safety regulations for rail and enforcement, rail funding and research on improving rail strategies.
FRA inspectors on the ground make use of discretion to determine which cases merit the lengthy and precise civil penalty procedure. This discretion helps ensure that those violations most deserving of punishment are punished.
Members of SMART-TD and their allies have made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight continues.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration has a variety of safety measures in place to protect the health and safety of its employees and the general public. It formulates and enforces regulations for rail safety and oversees the funding for rail. It also researches rail improvement strategies and technology. It also creates the implementation and maintenance of an action plan to maintain the current infrastructure and services for rail. It also works to expand and improve the national rail network. The department expects all rail employers to adhere to strict rules and regulations, and empower their employees and provide them with tools needed to be successful and safe. This includes participation in the confidential close-call reporting system, establishing labor-management occupational health and safety committees, with full union participation and anti-retaliation protections and providing employees with needed personal safety equipment.
FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of the rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct regular inspections of equipment and conduct a myriad of investigations of complaints of noncompliance. Civil penalties are applied to those who break rail safety laws. Safety inspectors from the agency have a wide discretion to determine whether an act is within the legal definition of an act that is punishable with civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also reviews all reports submitted by regional offices to ensure they are legal before assessing penalties. This discretion is exercised at both the regional and field levels to ensure that civil penalties are only used in cases that warrant their use.
To be convicted of a civil violation an employee of a railroad must know the rules and regulations governing their actions. They must also knowingly not adhere to these rules. However the agency does not consider any individual who acts under a directive from a supervisor to have committed an intentional violation. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the entire system that carries goods and passengers within and between cities and metropolitan areas. The trackage of a plant railroad at a steel mill is not considered part of the general rail system of transportation even being physically connected to it.
Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible to establish regulations for train operations that pertain to safety and the movement of hazardous substances. The agency also manages financing for rail which includes loans and grants for infrastructure and service improvements. 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 maintaining the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the needs for new capacity, expanding the network strategically as well as coordinating the regional and national system's planning and development.
Although the majority of the agency's activities are focused on freight transportation, it also manages passenger transportation. The agency is trying to connect people with the destinations they desire and offer more choices for travel. The agency's primary focus is on improving the passenger's experience as well as enhancing the safety of its current fleet, and making sure that the rail network continues operating efficiently.
Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, including those pertaining to the size of crews on trains. In recent times this issue has become controversial. Certain states have passed legislation requiring two-person teams on trains. This final rule outlines the minimum crew size requirements at the federal level, making sure that all railroads are subject to consistent safety standards.
This also requires every railroad that operates one-person train crews to inform FRA of the operation and submit an assessment of risk. This will allow FRA to better identify the specifics of each operation and compare them with the standard two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the criteria for reviewing an application for special approval from determining if an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety to determining if the operation is safer or more secure than a two-person crew operation.
During the period of public comments for this rule, a large number of people voted for a requirement of two people on the crew. In a letter to the editor 29 people expressed their concern that a single crewmember is not capable of responding as quickly to train accidents or malfunctions at grade crossings, or assist emergency response personnel on the highway-rail level crossing. Commenters pointed out that human factors are the reason for a majority of railroad accidents. They believe that a larger crew would ensure the safety of the train as well as its cargo.
fela claims and passenger rails use a variety of technologies to improve efficiency, increase security, and improve safety. Rail industry jargon comprises a variety of unique terms and acronyms. Some of the most well-known include machine vision systems (also called drones) instruments for rail-inspection systems, driverless train rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones).
Technology isn't just replacing some jobs, it's also empowering people to do their job more efficiently 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 inching closer to becoming reality.
As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure safe, reliable and affordable transportation for the nation, the Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This is a multi-billion-dollar initiative that will see bridges and tunnels rebuilt as well as tracks and power systems upgraded, and stations reconstructed or upgraded. The FRA's rail improvements program will be significantly increased by the recently approved bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a central element in this effort. The National Academies' recent review of the office concluded that it excelled in engaging, maintaining communications with inputs from a broad range of stakeholders. It must continue to consider how its research contributes to the department's primary goal of ensuring the safety of people and goods via rail.
The agency could improve its effectiveness by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technology. The Association of American Railroads, the primary freight rail association that focuses on research, policy, and standardization, has established a Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to help develop industry standards for the implementation of the technology.
FRA is likely to be interested in the creation 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 on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will need to know the level of risk that the industry sees in fully automated operation, as well as whether the industry is considering additional safeguards to reduce that risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are embracing technology to improve worker safety, increase efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the freight they transport arrives at its destination intact. These innovations vary from cameras and sensors that monitor freight to innovative railcar designs that help keep dangerous cargo safe during transportation. Some of these technologies even provide a way for railroads to send emergency responders to locations of accidents so they can swiftly reduce damage and reduce the risk to people and property.
Positive Train Control (PTC) is among the most significant developments in rail. It will stop train-to-train accidents, instances where trains are on track they shouldn't be, and other accidents caused by human error. This system is a three-part process consisting 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.
Passenger railroads also embrace 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 in an emergency. The company is also exploring other ways to use drones, including deploying drones to conduct inspections of bridges and other infrastructure for example, replacing the lights on railway towers, which can be dangerous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is a different technology that can be used in railways that transport passengers. It can detect people or objects on tracks and warn drivers if it is unsafe to continue. These kinds of technologies are particularly valuable for detecting unauthorized crossings as well as other issues that can arise in the off-hours, when traffic volumes are lowest and there are fewer people around to witness an accident.
Telematics is a significant technological advancement in the rail industry. It lets railways, shippers, and other stakeholders to monitor a traincar in real-time. Traincar crews and operators will benefit from increased accountability and visibility which can help them to improve efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays when delivering freight.