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 studies strategies for improving rail safety.
FRA field inspectors make use of discretion to decide on which cases warrant the exact and time consuming civil penalty process. This discretion helps to ensure that the most serious violations are punished.
Allies and members of SMART-TD have 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 safeguard the safety and health of employees and the public. It is responsible for creating and enforcing safety regulations for rail. It also administers rail funding and studies rail improvement strategies and technological developments. It also formulates, implements and maintains a plan for maintaining current rail services and infrastructure. It also expands and improves strategically the national rail network. The department expects that all rail companies adhere to strict rules and empower their employees, and provide them with the tools to ensure their safety and success. This includes a confidential close-call reporting system, establishing labor-management occupational safety and health committees, with full union participation and antiretaliation provisions and giving employees the necessary personal protective gear.
FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of the rail safety regulations and laws. They perform 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. Safety inspectors from the agency have wide discretion to determine if a violation falls under the definition provided by law of an act that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel’s safety division also examines all reports submitted by regional offices to ensure they are legal before assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the regional and field levels helps ensure that the time-consuming, costly civil penalty process is applied only in situations which truly warrant the deterrent effect of a civil penalty.
To be considered guilty of a civil infringement an employee of a railroad must know the rules and regulations governing their actions. They must also knowingly disregard these standards. However, the agency does not consider anyone who acts under a directive from a supervisor to have committed an intentional violation. The agency defines "general railroad system" as the whole network that carries goods and passengers between cities and metropolitan areas. The trackage of a plant railroad within the steel mill is not considered to be part of the overall rail transportation system, even though it's physically connected.
Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible to establish regulations for train operations, such as those relating to safety and the movement of hazardous substances. The agency oversees rail finance, including grants and loan for infrastructure and service improvement. The agency works with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies for improving the rail system of the United States. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services and making sure that there is enough capacity and strategically expanding the network, as well as coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.
While most of the agency's work is focused on freight transportation, it also oversees the transportation of passengers. The agency is working to offer more options for passengers and connect people to the places they want to go. fela railroad accident lawyer is focused on enhancing the passenger experience as well as improving the safety of the current fleet, and making sure that the rail network continues to operate efficiently.
Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, including those pertaining to the size of the crews on trains. This issue has become controversial in recent years, with a few states enacting legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule defines federally the minimum crew size requirements, ensuring that all railroads adhere to the same safety standards.
This rule also requires that every railroad operating with a crew of one notify FRA and submit a risk analysis. This will enable FRA to compare the parameters of each operation to those of a two-person standard crew operation. Additionally, this rule changes the criteria for reviewing an approval petition that is based on to determining whether an operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining whether approving the operation would be as secure or as safe as an operation with two crew members.
During the public comment period for this rule, a lot of people supported the requirement of a two-person crew. A letter written by 29 people outlined their concerns that a single crew member might not be as quick to respond to issues with trains or grade crossing incidents or assist emergency response personnel at a highway rail grade crossing. The commenters emphasized that human factors account for more than half of all railroad accidents and they believe that a larger crew would help ensure the safety of both the train and its cargo.
Technology
Freight and passenger railroads employ a wide array of technologies to enhance efficiency, improve security, increase safety and much more. The language used in the rail industry contains a myriad of distinct terms and acronyms however, some of the most significant 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 about replacing certain jobs. It empowers people to perform their jobs better and safer. Railroads that transport passengers are using smartphone apps and contactless fare payment cards to increase ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other innovations like autonomous rail cars are moving closer to becoming reality.
As part of its ongoing effort to improve 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 bridges, tunnels tracks, power systems, and tracks upgraded and stations being rebuilt or replaced. The FRA's rail improvement program will be significantly expanded by the recently passed bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is an essential component in this effort. The National Academies' recent review of the office found that it excelled in engaging, maintaining communications with and using inputs from a variety of stakeholders. However, it needs to concentrate on how its research aids in the department's main objective of ensuring the safe transportation of goods and people via rail.
The agency could increase its efficiency by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads, the main freight rail industry business organization that is focused on research, policy, and standard-setting, has established a Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to help develop industry standards for implementing the technology.
FRA will be interested in the group's creation of an automated rail taxonomy. It is a standard that will clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that would be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will also be looking to know the level of risk to safety that the industry believes is associated with the introduction of fully automated operation and whether the industry is considering additional safeguards to mitigate that risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are adopting technology to increase worker safety, boost efficiency in business processes and ensure that the freight they transport is delivered intact. These innovations vary from cameras and sensors that monitor freight to innovative railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo safe during transportation. Some of these technologies allow railroads to send emergency responders to the scene of an accident so 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 incidents caused by human error. This system is a three-part system comprised of onboard locomotive systems that track the train and wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a massive backend server that collects and analyzes data.
Railroads that transport passengers are also embracing technology to enhance security and safety. Amtrak for instance, is experimenting with the use of drones to assist security personnel on trains locate passengers and other items in an emergency. The company is also exploring ways to make use of drones. They could be used to examine bridges and other infrastructures or to replace the lighting on railway towers that are dangerous for workers to climb.
Other technologies that could be utilized for passenger railroads include smart track technology, which is able to detect the presence of objects or people on the tracks and send out drivers with a warning if it's unsafe to proceed. These types of technologies are particularly valuable for detecting unauthorized crossings as well as other issues that can arise in the off-hours, when traffic volumes are lowest and there are fewer people around to witness an accident.
Telematics is yet another significant technological advance in the railway industry. It allows shippers, railways and other stakeholders to track a traincar in real-time. Crews and railcar operators can benefit from increased accountability and transparency which can help them to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary maintenance. It will also help avoid delays when delivering freight.