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 are worthy of the time-consuming and precise civil penalty procedure. This helps ensure that the most serious violations are punished.
Members of SMART-TD and their allies have made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to keep two people in the locomotive cab 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 creates and enforces regulations for rail safety, administers rail funding and researches strategies for improving rail and technologies. It also develops and implements a plan to ensure the current infrastructure, rail services and capacity and strategically expands and improves the nation's rail network. The department requires all rail employers to abide by strict rules and regulations, empower their employees and provide them with the tools to succeed and stay safe. 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 protective equipment.
Inspectors of the FRA are at the forefront of enforcing rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct hundreds of investigations of complaints of non-compliance. Anyone who is in violation of the rail safety laws could be subject to civil penalties. The agency's safety inspectors have a broad discretion on whether an incident falls within the statutory definition of a crime that is punishable by civil penalties. Additionally, the Office of Chief Counsel's security division reviews all reports that are received by regional offices to determine legal sufficiency before assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at both the regional and field levels helps ensure that the lengthy, time-consuming civil penalty process is used only in situations that are truly deserving of the effect of a civil fine.
A rail worker must be aware of rules and regulations that govern his or her actions and knowingly disregard those guidelines to commit a criminal offense that is punishable by a civil penalty. The agency does not believe that a person who acts upon a directive from a supervisor has committed a willful offense. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the entire system that transports passengers and goods between metropolitan areas and cities. The trackage of a plant railroad in the steel mill is not considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, even though it is physically connected.
Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing train regulations, such as those relating to safety and the movement of dangerous substances. The agency is responsible for managing rail finance, including grants and loan for infrastructure and service improvement. The agency works with other DOT agencies and industry to devise strategies for improving the rail system of the United States. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the need for new capacity and strategically expanding the network, as well as coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.
While the majority of the agency's work is focused on freight transportation, it also manages the transportation of passengers. The agency is working to provide more options for passengers and connect people to the places they'd like to travel to. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience as well as improving the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring that the rail network is operating efficiently.
Railroads must comply with a number of federal regulations, including those that deal with the size and composition of crews on trains. In fela law firm has been a source of contention. Some states have passed legislation that requires two-person teams on trains. This final rule establishes federally the minimum size of crew requirements, making sure that all railroads follow the same safety standards.
This rule also requires each railroad operating a one-person train crew to notify FRA of the operation and submit a risk assessment. This will enable FRA to assess the requirements of each operation to the parameters of a 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 to determining if the operation is as safe or less risky than a two-person crew operations.
During the public comment period for this rule, a large number of people supported the requirement for a two-person crew. In a form letter 29 people voiced their concerns that a single crew member is not able to respond with the speed required to respond to train malfunctions or incidents 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 bigger crew would ensure the safety of the train and its cargo.
Technology
Freight and passenger railroads employ a wide array of technologies to improve efficiency, increase safety, boost security and much more. The rail industry vernacular includes a variety of specific terms and acronyms, however, some of the most notable developments include machine vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains rolling data centers, and drones that are not piloted (commonly known as drones).
Technology isn't just replacing certain jobs -- it's empowering people to do their job better and safer. Railroads that transport passengers are using smartphones apps and contactless fare payment cards to improve ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other innovations such as autonomous rail cars are coming closer to reality.
As part of its ongoing effort to advance 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 dollars project that will see bridges and tunnels restored, tracks and power systems upgraded, and stations 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 effort. The National Academies' recent review of the office concluded that it was successful in engaging, maintaining communications using inputs from a variety of stakeholders. But it must be more focused on how its research helps the department achieve its primary objective of ensuring the safe movement of people and goods by rail.
The agency could enhance its effectiveness 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, which focuses on research, policy and standard setting created an Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to assist in helping develop standards within the industry.
FRA is likely to be interested in the group's creation of an automated rail taxonomy, which is a standard that will clearly and consistently define the different levels of automation that would be applicable to both rail and on-road transit vehicles. The agency will also be looking to know the level of risk to safety that the industry perceives associated with implementing fully automated operation and whether the industry is considering adding additional security measures to reduce the risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are adopting technology to increase worker safety, increase efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the cargo they transport arrives at its destination intact. These innovations include cameras and sensors that monitor freight, to new railcar designs that help keep dangerous cargo safe during transportation. Certain of these technologies allow railroads to send emergency responders directly to the scene of an accident to reduce the risk and damages to property and individuals.
One of the most renowned innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC), which will inhibit train-to-train collisions, situations where trains are on tracks that shouldn't be, and other accidents that result from human mistakes. The system is comprised of three components: onboard locomotive systems which track the train; wayside networks which communicate with the locomotive; and a huge server that analyzes and collects data.
Passenger railroads also embrace technology to enhance safety and security. Amtrak is one example. It is experimenting with the use of drones to help security personnel on trains locate passengers and other items in the event of an emergency. The company is also looking into different ways to use drones, such as using drones to conduct inspections of bridges and other infrastructure, for example, replacing the lights on railway towers that could be hazardous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is another technology that is used in railways that transport passengers. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and notify motorists that it is not safe 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 breakthrough in the railway industry is telematics which allows shippers, railroads and other stakeholders to monitor a traincar's status and condition via real-time tracking. These capabilities provide railcar operators and crews better accountability and transparency and aid in improving efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays in the delivery of freight to customers.