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The Federal Railroad Administration and TechnologyThe Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for rail safety regulations and enforcement, rail funding and research on rail improvement strategies.FRA inspectors on the ground make use of discretion to decide which cases are worthy of the lengthy and precise civil penalty procedure. This ensures that the violations most deserving of punishment are penalized.SMART-TD members and allies have made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight is not over.SafetyThe Federal Railroad Administration has a variety of safety measures in place to safeguard the health and welfare of employees and the public. It is responsible for establishing and enforcing rail safety regulations. It also oversees rail funding and conducts research on improvements to rail strategies and technological developments. It also develops the implementation and maintenance of a plan for maintaining the current infrastructure and services for rail. It also expands and improves strategically the rail network across the nation. The department expects all railroad employers to adhere to strict rules and regulations, and empower their employees and provide them with tools to be successful and secure. This includes taking part in the confidential close-call reporting system, setting up occupational health and safety committees with full participation from unions and anti-retaliation safeguards, and providing employees with the necessary personal protection equipment.FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of railway safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and investigate complaints from hundreds of people. Anyone who violates the rail safety laws could be penalized civilly. Safety inspectors from the agency are able to decide on the extent to which an incident falls within the legal definition of a civil penalty-worthy act. The Office of Chief Counsel’s safety division also reviews the reports that regional offices submit to ensure that they are legal prior to imposing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the regional and field levels ensures that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is utilized only in those situations that truly warrant the deterrent effect of a civil penalty.To be convicted of a civil infringement the employee of a rail company must know the rules and regulations governing their actions. They must also knowingly ignore these rules. However the agency does not take any person who acts under a directive by a supervisor as having committed a willful violation. The agency defines the « general railroad system of transportation » as the entire system that allows passengers and goods to travel within metropolitan areas, or between them. The trackage of a plant railroad in the steelmill isn’t considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, even though it is physically connected.RegulationThe Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those related to safety and movement of hazardous materials. The agency is responsible for managing rail finance, including grants and loan to improve service and infrastructure. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and industry to devise strategies to improve the nation’s rail system. This includes maintaining current rail infrastructure and services and in addition to addressing the need for additional capacity, strategically expanding the network, and coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.While most of the agency’s work focuses on freight transportation, it also handles passenger transportation. fela claims railroad employees is aiming to provide more options for passenger travel and connect people with the places they would like to travel to. The agency’s focus is on improving the experience of passengers and enhancing the safety of the existing fleet and ensuring the rail network continues operating efficiently.Railroads must comply with a number of federal regulations, including those relating to the size and composition of the 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. The final rule codifies the minimum crew size requirements at a federal level, ensuring that all railroads are subject to the same safety standards.This also requires every railroad that has a single-person train crew to inform FRA of the operation and submit an assessment of risk. This will allow FRA to better identify the specifics of each operation and compare them to the typical two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the review standard of 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 time of public comments for this rule, a lot of people voiced their support for a requirement of two persons on the crew. A form letter sent by 29 individuals emphasized their concerns that a lone crewmember could not be as quick to respond to issues with trains or grade crossing incidents, or assist emergency responders at a highway-rail grade crossing. Commenters pointed out that human factors are the reason for a majority of railroad accidents. They believe that a larger crew would ensure the security of the train and its cargo.TechnologyFreight and passenger railroads employ numerous technologies to enhance efficiency, improve security, improve safety and much more. Rail industry jargon covers various distinct terms and acronyms. Some of the most well-known include machine vision systems (also called drones) instruments for rail-inspection systems, driverless train, rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicle (also known as drones).Technology doesn’t just replace some jobs. It helps people perform their jobs more effectively and more safely. Railroads that transport passengers are using smartphones apps and contactless fare payment cards in order to boost ridership and make the system more efficient. Other innovations, like autonomous rail vehicles, are inching closer to reality.As part of its ongoing efforts to improve 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 initiative that will see bridges and tunnels restored tracks, power systems and tracks upgraded, and stations reconstructed or upgraded. FRA’s recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure law will dramatically grow the agency’s rail improvement programs.The agency’s Office of Research, Development and Technology is a key piece in this initiative. Recent National Academies review of the office revealed that it was successful in engaging in a continuous dialogue and utilizing the inputs from a variety of stakeholders. However, it needs to be more focused on how its research helps the department achieve its primary strategic goal of ensuring the safe transportation of goods and people by railway.The agency could improve its effectiveness by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technology. The Association of American Railroads, the freight rail industry’s primary business organization that is focused on policy, research and standard-setting the Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to help in developing industry standards for implementing the technology.FRA will be interested in the development of an automated rail taxonomy, a standard that will clearly and consistently define the different levels of automation that could be applicable to both rail and on-road transit vehicles. The agency will also want to know the level of safety risk that the industry perceives associated with implementing fully automated operation and whether or not the industry is considering adding additional security measures to reduce the risk.InnovationRailroads are adopting technology to boost worker safety, make business processes more efficient, and ensure that the freight that they transport arrives at its destination in good condition. Examples of this innovations range from the use of cameras and sensors to monitor freight, to new railcar designs that keep dangerous cargo safe during transport. Some of these technologies even provide a way for railroads to dispatch emergency personnel to locations of accidents so they can swiftly reduce damage and reduce the risk to people and property.Positive Train Control (PTC) is one of the most important innovations in rail. It is designed to stop train-to-train accidents, instances when trains are in a position they shouldn’t be, and other accidents caused by human errors. This system consists of three components consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train; wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive; and a massive server that gathers and analyzes data.Railroads that transport passengers also use technology to improve safety and security. Amtrak, for example, is experimenting with drones to assist security personnel on trains locate passengers and items in the event of an emergency. The company is also examining ways to use drones. They could be used to check bridges and other infrastructure or to replace the lights on railway towers that are hazardous for workers to climb.Other technologies that could be utilized for passenger railroads include smart track technology, which can detect the presence of objects or people on the tracks and issue a warning to drivers if it’s unsafe to proceed. These kinds of technology are especially beneficial in detecting unsafe crossings and other issues during times when traffic is at its lowest and there are fewer people around to witness an accident.Telematics is a significant technological advancement in the railway industry. It allows shippers, railways and other parties to monitor a traincar in real-time. These capabilities give railcar owners and crews better accountability and transparency and aid in improving efficiency, prevent unnecessary maintenance and reduce delays in the delivery of freight to customers.