The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology
The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces safety regulations for rail It also provides rail funding and conducts research on strategies to improve rail infrastructure.
FRA field inspectors employ discretion to determine which cases warrant the exact and time-consuming civil penalty process. This ensures that the violations most deserving of punishment are punished.
SMART-TD and its allies made history in 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two people should be in the cabs of freight trains. The fight continues.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration has a range of safety measures in place to safeguard the health and welfare of employees and the public. It develops and enforces safety regulations for rail as well as manages funding for rail and researches strategies for improving rail and technologies. It also formulates, 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 expects all rail employers to adhere to the strictest rules and regulations, empower their employees and provide them with the tools needed to be successful and safe. fela railroad accident lawyer includes taking part in the confidential close-call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational health and safety committees that have full union participation, as well as anti-retaliation safeguards, and providing employees with the necessary personal safety equipment.
Inspectors of the FRA are at the forefront of enforcing rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections on equipment and investigate hundreds of complaints. Anyone who is in violation of the rail safety laws could be subject to civil penalties. Safety inspectors from the agency have a broad discretion to determine whether violations fall within the statutory definition of an act punishable with civil penalties. In addition the Office of Chief Counsel's security division examines all reports submitted by regional offices to determine legality prior to assessing penalties. This discretion is exercised both at the field and regional levels to ensure that civil penalties are only used in situations that warrant them.
A rail worker must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern his actions, and not knowingly violate those guidelines to commit a civil penalty-worthy offense. However the agency doesn't consider anyone who acts under a directive from a supervisor as having 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 in a steel mill is not considered to be part of the general transportation system that trains even although it is physically connected to it.
Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those pertaining to safety and movement of hazardous materials. The agency is responsible for managing rail finance, including grants and loan for service and infrastructure improvement. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and industry to devise strategies to improve the nation's rail system. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the needs for new capacity and expanding the network strategically, and coordinating regional and national system planning and development.
The agency is responsible for freight transportation but also oversees passenger transport. The agency is working to connect people with the destinations they desire and offer more options for travel. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience and increasing the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring the rail network continues to operate efficiently.
Railroads are required to comply with a range of federal regulations, including those relating to the size and composition of train crews. This issue has become an issue of contention in recent years, with several states passing legislation to require two-person crews on trains. This final rule outlines the minimum requirements for crew size at an international level, and ensures that all railroads are subject to the same safety standards.
This rule also requires that every railroad that has a one-person crew notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will enable FRA to evaluate the characteristics of each operation to the standard 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 standards to determining whether the operation is as safe or safer than two-person crew operations.
During the public comment period on this rule, many people supported the requirement of a two-person crew. In a form letter 29 people expressed their concerns that a single member of the crew is not capable of responding in a timely manner to train accidents or malfunctions at grade crossings or assist emergency response personnel at an elevated highway crossing. Commenters emphasized that human factors are the reason for more than half all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger team will ensure the safety of the train and its cargo.
Technology
Freight and passenger railroads employ numerous technologies to increase efficiency, add safety, boost security and more. The language used in the rail industry includes many specific terms and acronyms, however, some of the most notable developments include machine vision systems, instrumentsed rail inspection systems, driverless trains rolling data centers and drones that are not piloted (commonly known as drones).
Technology isn't just about replacing certain jobs. It empowers people to perform their jobs more effectively and more safely. Railroads that transport passengers are using smartphone apps and contactless fare payment cards to improve ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other innovations like autonomous rail cars are moving closer to reality.
As part of its ongoing effort to ensure safe, reliable and affordable transportation options for the country, the Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This is a multi-billion-dollar project that will see tunnels and bridges rebuilt, tracks and power systems upgraded, and stations rebuilt or replaced. FRA's recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure law will substantially grow the agency's rail improvement programs.
The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a key piece in this initiative. The most recent National Academies review of the office found that it excelled in engaging in a continuous dialogue and utilizing the inputs from a variety of stakeholders. It still needs to focus on how its research contributes to the department's primary goal of ensuring the safe movement of people and goods by rail.
The agency could increase its effectiveness by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR), the primary industry association for the freight rail industry, which is focused on research, policy and standard setting and has established an Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to assist in helping 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 be applicable to rail transit as well as on-road vehicles. The agency will also need 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 protections to minimize the risk.
Innovation
Railroads are using technology to boost worker safety, make business processes more efficient, and ensure that the cargo it transports arrives at its destination intact. Examples of this kind of innovations range from the use of cameras and sensors to keep track of freight, and to new railcar designs that help keep hazardous cargo secure during transit. Some of these technologies provide a way for railroads to send emergency response personnel to areas of accidents so that they can quickly mitigate the risks to property and people.
Positive Train Control (PTC) is among the most significant developments in rail. It can prevent train-to-train accidents, situations when trains are in a position they shouldn't and other accidents caused by human error. This system is made up of three components consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train; wayside networks which communicate with the locomotive and a massive server that gathers and analyzes data.
Passenger railroads are also embracing technology to improve safety and security. Amtrak, for example, is experimenting with drones to help train security staff locate passengers and other items in the event of an emergency. Amtrak is also looking into ways to make use of drones. They could be used to examine bridges and other infrastructure or to replace the lighting on railway towers that are dangerous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is a different technology that is used in railways for passengers. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and notify drivers if it is unsafe to continue. These types of technologies can be particularly valuable for detecting unauthorized crossings and other problems in the off-hours, when traffic volumes are lowest and there are fewer people to witness an accident.
Another significant technological advance in the railway industry is telematics which allows shippers, railroads and other stakeholders to see the status and condition of a traincar via real-time tracking. Crews and railcar operators will benefit from increased accountability and visibility which will allow them improve efficiency and avoid unnecessary maintenance. It will also help reduce delays when delivering freight.