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 improving rail strategies.

FRA inspectors on the ground make use of discretion to determine which cases are worthy of the lengthy and precise civil penalty process. This discretion helps ensure that the most serious violations of punishment are penalized.

Allies and members of SMART-TD made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to ensure that two people are in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight isn't over.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration implements a number of safety measures to ensure the health of employees and public. It is responsible for establishing and enforcing regulations for rail safety. It also oversees rail funding and conducts research on improvements to rail strategies and technological developments. It also creates and implements a strategy to maintain current rail services, infrastructure and capacity and strategically expands and improves the national rail network. 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. This includes the confidential close-call reporting system, creating labor-management occupational safety and health committees with full union participation and antiretaliation provisions and providing employees with the required personal protective gear.

FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections on equipment and investigate complaints from hundreds of people. Anyone who is in violation of the safety rules for rail can be subject to civil penalties. The agency's safety inspectors have broad discretion over whether a particular violation meets the statutory description of a civil penalty-worthy act. In addition, the Office of Chief Counsel's safety division examines all reports submitted by regional offices to determine legality prior to assessing 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 those situations that are truly deserving of the impact of a civil penalty.

To be guilty of a civil offense the employee of a rail company must be aware of the rules and regulations governing their actions. They also must be aware that they not adhere to these rules. The agency does not consider that a person who acts upon a directive from a supervisor has committed a willful offence. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the entire network over which goods and passengers travel within cities and metropolitan areas, or between them. The trackage of a plant railroad at a steel mill is not considered to be part of the overall transportation system by rail even being physically connected to it.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing regulations for trains, such as those relating to safety and the movement of dangerous substances. The agency manages railway 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 nation's rail infrastructure. This includes maintaining the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the needs for new capacity and expanding the network strategically and coordinating national and regional system planning and development.

The agency is primarily responsible for freight transportation, but also oversees passenger transport. The agency is trying to connect people to the places they want and provide more choices for travel. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience and improving the safety of the current fleet, and ensuring that the rail network continues to operate efficiently.

Railroads are required to comply with a number of federal regulations, including those relating to the size and composition of train crews. This issue has become controversial in recent years, with several states enacting legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule codifies the minimum crew size requirements at the federal level, making sure that all railroads are held to the same safety standards.

This rule also requires that each railroad operating a one-person crew notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will enable FRA to assess the requirements of each operation with the standard two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the standard for reviewing an approval request that is a special case from determining 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 for this rule, a large number of people supported the requirement for a two-person crew. In a formal letter 29 people voiced their concerns that a single crew member would not be in a position to respond as quickly to train accidents or malfunctions at grade crossings or assist emergency personnel on a highway-rail level crossing. The commenters emphasized that human factors are responsible for more than half of railroad accidents and believe that a larger team would help ensure the safety of both the train and its cargo.

Technology

Freight and passenger railroads employ various technologies to enhance efficiency, add safety, boost security and more. The rail industry vernacular includes many specific terms and acronyms, however, some of the most significant 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 allows people to do their jobs better and more safely. Passenger railroads are using smartphones apps and contactless fare payment cards in order to boost ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other innovations such as autonomous rail cars are moving closer to becoming reality.

The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure safe reliable, affordable, and cost-effective transportation in America is focusing on modernizing the rail infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollar effort that will see bridges and tunnels rebuilt tracks, power systems and tracks upgraded, and stations rebuilt or replaced. FRA's recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will substantially grow the agency's rail improvement programs.

The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a major element in this effort. Recent National Academies review of the office found that it excelled in engaging with, maintaining communication and utilizing inputs from a range of stakeholders. However, it needs to concentrate on how its research contributes to the department's primary objective of ensuring the safe movement of people and goods via rail.

The agency could improve its effectiveness by identifying and supporting automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads, the primary freight rail industry organization that focuses on policy, research and standardization, has established a Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to assist in the development of industry standards to implement the technology.

FRA is likely to be interested in the creation of an automated rail taxonomy, a system of standards to clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that could be applicable to both rail and on-road transit vehicles. The agency will also be looking to know the degree of risk to safety that the industry perceives associated when implementing a fully automated system and whether or not the industry is considering additional protections to minimize the risk.

Innovation

Railroads are using technology to increase worker safety and make business processes more efficient and ensure that the cargo it transports arrives at its destination safely. These innovations vary from cameras and sensors that monitor freight to innovative railcar designs that help keep dangerous cargo safe during transit. Some of these technologies allow railroads to dispatch emergency personnel to the scene of an Accident Injury Lawyers so they can swiftly reduce damage and reduce the risk to property and lives.

One of the most prominent innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC) that will stop collisions between trains and trains, situations in which trains are on tracks that shouldn't be, and other accidents resulting from human mistakes. This system consists 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.

Railroads that transport passengers also use technology to improve security and safety. Amtrak, for example, is testing the use of drones in order to help train security staff locate passengers and other items in an emergency. The company is also examining ways to make use of drones. They could be used to inspect bridges and other infrastructures or to replace the lights on railway towers that are hazardous for workers to climb.

Smart track technology is another technology that can be used in railways for passengers. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and warn drivers if it is unsafe to continue. These technologies are particularly useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized or other issues during 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 allows railroads, shippers and other stakeholders to view the condition and status of a traincar through real-time tracking. Traincar crews and operators can benefit from increased accountability and visibility which can help them improve efficiency as well as avoid unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays when delivering freight.