The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology
The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for the safety of rail, regulations and enforcement, as well as funding for rail, and research on rail improvement strategies.
FRA inspectors on the ground make use of discretion to determine which cases are worthy of the time-consuming and precise civil penalty procedure. This discretion helps to ensure that the most serious violations are punished.
Allies and members of SMART-TD made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the locomotive cab of freight trains. The fight is not over.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration has a range of safety measures in place to protect the health and safety of employees and the public. It develops and enforces regulations for rail safety as well as manages funding for rail and researches rail improvement strategies and technologies. It also develops and implements a strategy to ensure the current infrastructure, rail services and capacity, and strategically expands and improves the national rail network. fela claims railroad employees requires that all rail employers adhere to strict regulations and empower their employees, and provide them with the tools to be secure and productive. This includes taking part in an anonymous 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 needed personal protective equipment.
Inspectors of the FRA are at the leading edge of enforcing rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections on equipment and investigate complaints from hundreds of people. Civil penalties are imposed on those who violate railroad safety laws. Safety inspectors from the agency have a wide discretion to determine if an act is within the definition provided by law of an act that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also scrutinizes the reports submitted by regional offices to ensure they are legal prior to imposing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the field and regional levels ensures that the lengthy, time-consuming civil penalty process is utilized only in situations that truly warrant the deterrent impact of a civil penalty.
A rail worker must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern his actions and be aware of the standards to commit a criminal offense that is punishable by a civil penalty. However, the agency does not consider anyone who acts under a directive by a supervisor as having committed an intentional violation. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the entire system that carries goods and passengers between metropolitan areas and cities. The trackage of a plant railroad in 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 is responsible for establishing train regulations that pertain to safety and the transportation of hazardous substances. The agency also manages financing for rail which includes loans and grants for infrastructure and service improvements. The agency works with other DOT agencies as well as industry to devise strategies for improving the nation's rail infrastructure. This includes ensuring the existing rail infrastructure and services, addressing the needs for new capacity and expanding the network strategically and coordinating national and regional system planning and development.
While most of the agency's work is focused on freight transportation, it also manages passenger transportation. The agency is aiming to provide more options for passenger travel and connect people to the places they'd like to travel to. The agency is focused on improving the passenger experience and increasing the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring the rail network continues to operate efficiently.
Railroads must comply with many federal regulations, including those related to the size of the crews on trains. In recent years the issue has become a source of controversy. Certain states have passed legislation that requires two-person crews in trains. This final rule codifies the minimum requirements for crew size at the federal level, making sure that all railroads are held to the same safety standards.
This also requires every railroad that has a single-person train crew to notify FRA of the operation and submit a risk assessment. This will allow FRA to better identify the specific parameters of each operation and compare them to the parameters of a normal two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the standard for reviewing a special approval request from determining whether an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety to determining if the operation is as safe or less risky than a two-person crew operation.
During the public comment period for this rule, many people supported the requirement for a two-person crew. In a formal letter, 29 people expressed their concern that a single crew member will not be able to respond as quickly to train accidents or malfunctions at grade crossings or assist emergency response personnel on the highway-rail level crossing. Commenters noted that human factor are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger team will ensure the security of the train and its cargo.
Technology
Trains for passenger and freight use a variety of technologies to increase efficiency, increase security, and improve safety. The rail industry lingo contains a myriad of distinct terms and acronyms but some of the more notable innovations include machine vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains, rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly known as drones).
Technology isn't just about replacing certain jobs. It empowers people to do their jobs better and safer. Railroads for passengers use apps on smartphones and contactless fare cards in order to increase ridership and increase the efficiency of their system. Other innovations like autonomous rail cars are coming closer to reality.
As part of its ongoing effort to advance 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 tunnels, bridges tracks, power systems, and tracks updated and stations renovated or replaced. The FRA's rail improvement program will be significantly expanded by the recently passed bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a central element in this initiative. The National Academies' recent review of the office concluded that it was successful in engaging, maintaining communication with inputs from a broad range of stakeholders. It still needs to be aware of how its research contributes towards the department's primary objective of ensuring the safety of goods and people by rail.
One area where the agency may be able to improve its effectiveness is in identifying and assisting the development of automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads, the primary freight rail industry organization that focuses on policy, research and standard-setting the Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to help in developing industry standards to implement the technology.
FRA is likely to be interested in the development of an automated rail taxonomy. It is a standard that will clearly and consistently define the different levels of automation that could be applicable to both rail and on-road transit vehicles. The agency will want to know the amount of risk the industry is assessing with fully automated operation, and whether the industry is considering additional safeguards to reduce the risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are embracing technology to improve worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the freight they transport arrives at its destination in good condition. These innovations range from sensors and cameras that monitor freight, to new railcar designs that help keep dangerous cargo safe during transit. Some of these technologies provide a way for railroads to send emergency response personnel to areas of accidents so that they can swiftly mitigate damage and reduce the risk to property and lives.
Positive Train Control (PTC) is among the most important innovations in rail. It is designed to prevent train-to-train accidents, situations where trains are on track they shouldn't and other accidents caused by human error. The system is a three-part process consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train and wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive, and an enormous backend server that collects and analyzes data.
Passenger railroads also embrace technology to increase safety and security. Amtrak, for example, is experimenting with drones in order to help train security personnel locate passengers and items in an emergency. The company is also looking into different ways to use drones, such as using drones to inspect bridges and other infrastructure, such as replacing the lighting on railway towers, which can be dangerous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is another technology that can be utilized in passenger railroads. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and notify drivers if it is unsafe 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 important technological advancement in the rail industry is telematics which enables railroads, shippers and other stakeholders to see the condition and status of a traincar via real-time tracking. Traincar crews and operators can benefit from greater accountability and transparency, which will help them improve efficiency as well as avoid unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays when delivering freight.