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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces rail safety regulations The Federal Railroad Administration also provides funding for rail and conducts research on strategies to improve rail infrastructure.

FRA inspectors on the ground employ discretion to decide which cases are worthy of the time-consuming and precise civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that the most serious violations are penalized.

SMART-TD members and allies made history in 2024 when they began 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 safeguard the safety and health 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 technology. It also creates plans, implements and maintains a plan for maintaining the current infrastructure and services for rail. It also develops and improves the national rail network. The department requires all rail companies to adhere to strict rules and regulations, empower their employees and provide them with tools to succeed and stay safe. This includes taking part in the confidential close call reporting system, establishing occupational health and safety committees, with full union participation and anti-retaliation protections and providing employees with personal safety equipment.

FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct regular inspections of equipment and conduct a myriad of investigations of complaints of noncompliance. Anyone who violates rail safety laws may be subject to civil penalties. Safety inspectors from the agency have a broad discretion on whether an individual violation is in line with the legal definition of a criminal penalty-worthy act. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also reviews all reports submitted by regional offices to ensure that they are legal prior to imposing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the field and regional levels helps ensure that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is utilized only in situations which truly warrant the deterrent effect of a civil fine.

To be considered guilty of a civil offense an employee of a railroad must know the rules and regulations that govern his or her actions. They must also be aware of and not adhere to these rules. However the agency doesn't consider anyone who is acting under a direction from a supervisor as having committed a willful violation. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the entire network that passengers and goods travel within cities and metropolitan areas and between them. The trackage of a plant railroad within the steelmill isn't considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, despite the fact that it's physically connected.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing train regulations including those related to safety and the movement of dangerous substances. The agency also manages financing for rail, including grants and loans for infrastructure and improvements to service. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies as well as industry to develop strategies to improve the rail system of the United States. This work includes maintaining current rail infrastructure and services, making sure that there is enough capacity and strategically expanding the network and coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.

The agency is primarily responsible for freight transport, but also supervises passenger transportation. The agency is trying to connect people with the destinations they desire and offer more alternatives for travel. The agency is focused on improving the experience for passengers as well as enhancing 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 relating to the size and composition of crews on trains. In recent times, this issue has become a source of controversy. Certain states have passed legislation requiring two-person crews on trains. This final rule defines federally the minimum crew size requirements, making sure that all railroads adhere to the same safety standards.

This rule also requires each railroad that has one-person train crews to inform 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 normal two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the review standard of an application for special approval to determine if an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety, to determining if the operation is as secure or safer than two-person crew operation.

During the public comment period on this rule, many people expressed support for a two-person crew requirement. In a form letter, 29 people expressed their concern that a single crewmember will not be in a position to respond in a timely manner to train malfunctions or incidents at grade crossings or assist emergency response personnel on a highway-rail level crossing. The commenters noted that human factors are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents, and they think that a bigger crew would help ensure the safety of both the train and the cargo it transports.

Technology

Freight and passenger railroads employ various technologies to improve efficiency, improve security, increase safety and more. Rail industry jargon comprises various unique terms and acronyms. Some of the most notable include machine vision systems (also known as drones) instruments for rail-inspection systems driverless trains rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones).

Technology isn't just replacing some jobs; it's helping individuals to perform their work better and safer. Passenger railroads 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 getting closer to reality.

The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote secure, reliable, and affordable transportation in America, is focused on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This multi-billion dollar project will see bridges, tunnels tracks, power systems and tracks upgraded and federal employers’ liability stations being rebuilt or replaced. The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will significantly increase the agency's rail improvement programs.

The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a crucial component in this initiative. The National Academies' recent review of the office revealed that it was successful in engaging, maintaining communications with and using inputs from a wide range of stakeholders. But it must concentrate on how its research contributes to the department's primary strategic goal of ensuring safe movement of goods and people via rail.

One area in which the agency might be able improve its effectiveness is in identifying and supporting the advancement of automated train technology and systems. The Association of American Railroads, the freight rail industry's primary business organization that is focused on policy, research and standard setting, has established a Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to help develop industry standards to implement the technology.

FRA will be interested in the development of an automated rail taxonomy, a standardization system that can clearly and consistently define the different levels of automation that could be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will need to know the level of risk that the industry is assessing with fully automated operation, and whether the industry is considering any additional measures to mitigate the risk.

Innovation

Rail companies are adopting technology to enhance worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the cargo they transport reaches its destination intact. These innovations range from sensors and cameras that monitor freight, to new railcar designs which keep hazardous cargo safe during transportation. Certain of these technologies allow railroads dispatch emergency responders directly to the scene of an accident to minimize the risk and minimize damage to property and people.

Positive Train Control (PTC) is one of the most significant developments in rail. It will stop train-to-train accidents, instances when trains are in a position they shouldn't, and other incidents caused by human error. The system is comprised of three components of onboard locomotive systems that track the train; wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a huge server that collects and analyses data.

Railroads that transport passengers are also embracing technology to bolster safety and security. Amtrak for instance, is testing the use of drones to help security personnel on trains locate passengers and items in an emergency. The company is also exploring ways to use drones. They could be used to inspect 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 passenger railroads. It is able to detect objects or people on tracks and notify drivers that it is unsafe to continue. These technologies are especially useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized or other issues during the evenings when the traffic is lower and there are less witnesses to an accident.

Telematics is yet another significant technological advance in the railway industry. It lets railways, shippers, and other parties to track a traincar in real-time. Crews and railcar operators will benefit from increased accountability and transparency which will allow them to improve efficiency as well as avoid unnecessary maintenance and reduce delays when delivering freight.