7 Things About Federal Railroad You'll Kick Yourself For Not Knowing
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 use discretion to determine which cases are worthy of the time-consuming and precise civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that the violations most deserving of punishment are penalized.
Allies and members of SMART-TD made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to keep two people in the locomotive cab of freight trains. The fight is not over.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration implements a variety of safety measures to safeguard the health of its employees and public. It is responsible for establishing and enforcing regulations for rail safety. It also oversees rail funding, and conducts research on rail improvement strategies and technologies. It also develops plans, implements and maintains an action plan to maintain current rail services and infrastructure. It also develops and improves 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 safe. This includes participating in a confidential close-call reporting system, creating labor-management occupational safety and health committees with full participation from unions and anti-retaliation clauses and providing employees with the required personal protective gear.
FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of the rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections on equipment and conduct investigations into hundreds of complaints. Those who violate the safety rules for rail can be punished with civil penalties. The agency's safety inspectors are able to decide on the extent to which an individual violation is in line with the statutory definition of a crime that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel’s safety division also reviews the reports submitted by regional offices to ensure that they are legal prior to imposing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at both the field and regional levels ensures that the time-consuming, costly civil penalty process is used only in those situations that are truly deserving of the impact of a civil penalty.
To be guilty of a civil infringement, a rail employee must know the rules and regulations that govern the conduct of his or her employees. They also must be aware that they not adhere to these rules. The agency doesn't consider that a person who acts upon a directive from a supervisor has committed a willful offense. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the whole network that passengers and goods travel within metropolitan and city areas, or between them. The trackage of a plant railroad within a steelmill is not considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, despite the fact that it is physically connected.
Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those pertaining to safety and movement of hazardous materials. The agency also manages financing for rail which includes loans and grants for improvements to infrastructure and service. fela lawsuits with other DOT agencies and industry to devise strategies for improving the nation's rail infrastructure. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services, responding to the demands for new capacity, expanding the network strategically, and coordinating national and regional system development and planning.
While most of the agency's activities are focused on freight transportation, it also handles the transportation of passengers. The agency is working to offer more options for passenger travel and connect passengers with the places they would like to travel to. The agency is focused on improving the experience for passengers and increasing the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring the railway system continues to function efficiently.
Railroads must comply with many federal regulations, including those pertaining to the size of the crews on trains. This is a controversial one in recent years, with some states enacting legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule defines federally the minimum crew size requirements, ensuring that all railroads follow the same safety standards.
This also requires every railroad operating a one-person train crew to inform FRA of the operation and submit a risk assessment. This will enable FRA to compare the parameters of each operation with the parameters of a standard two-person crew operation. This rule also alters the standard for reviewing a special approval request from determining if an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety, to determining if the operation is safer or less risky than a two-person crew operations.
During the time of public comment on this rule, a lot of people voiced their support for a requirement for a two person crew. In a formal letter 29 people expressed their concern that a single crewmember is not in a position to respond as quickly to train malfunctions or incidents at grade crossings, or assist emergency personnel on the highway-rail level crossing. The commenters noted that human factors account for more than half of all railroad accidents and they think that a bigger crew could help ensure the safety of the train and the cargo it transports.
Technology
Railroads that transport passengers and freight employ a wide array of technologies to improve efficiency, improve safety, boost security and much more. The rail industry vernacular includes a variety of specific terms and acronyms, however, some of the most notable innovations 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 only able to replace certain jobs. It empowers people to do their jobs better and safer. Passenger railroads use smartphones apps and contactless fare cards to boost passengership and boost the efficiency of their system. Other developments like autonomous rail cars are coming closer to reality.
As part of its ongoing effort to advance secure, reliable and affordable transportation for the entire nation, the Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This multi-billion-dollar effort will see bridges, tunnels, tracks and power systems updated and stations rebuilt or replace. The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will substantially increase the agency's rail improvement programs.
The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a central piece in this effort. The most recent National Academies review of the office found that it excelled in engaging in a continuous dialogue and utilizing the inputs from a variety of stakeholders. It must continue to be aware of how its research contributes towards the department's main goal of ensuring the safe movement of people and goods via railways.
The agency could enhance its effectiveness by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the principal industry association for the freight rail industry, which is focused on research and policy, as well as standard setting and has established an Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to help develop standards within the industry.
The FRA is interested in the group’s creation of a taxonomy for automated rail vehicles which defines clearly and consistently different levels of automation. This would apply to rail transit as well as vehicles on the road. The agency will also want to know the level of safety risk that the industry perceives associated when implementing a fully automated system and whether the industry is considering additional safeguards to mitigate that risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are embracing technology to improve worker safety, increase efficiency in business processes and ensure that the freight they transport arrives at its destination intact. These innovations vary from cameras and sensors that monitor freight, to new railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo safe during transit. Some of these technologies even allow railroads to send emergency response personnel to areas of accidents so that they can swiftly mitigate risks to property and lives.
One of the most renowned innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC), which will inhibit collisions between trains and train, situations where trains are on tracks they shouldn't be, as well as other accidents resulting from human error. This system consists of three components: onboard locomotive systems which track the train; wayside networks which communicate with the locomotive and a massive server that gathers and analyzes data.
Trains for passengers also adopt technology to increase security and safety. Amtrak is one example. It is experimenting with drones to assist train security staff locate passengers and items in the event of an emergency. Amtrak is also looking into ways to make use of drones. They could be used to check bridges and other infrastructure or to replace the lighting on railway towers that are hazardous for workers to climb.
Smart track technology is another technology that is used in railways that transport passengers. It is able to detect objects or people on tracks and warn drivers if it is unsafe to continue. These types of technologies can be particularly beneficial in detecting unsafe crossings as well as other issues that can arise in the off-hours, when traffic levels are lower and there are fewer people around to witness an accident.
Another important technological advancement in the rail industry is telematics which allows shippers, railroads and other stakeholders to monitor the status and condition of a traincar by real-time tracking. Traincar crews and operators can benefit from increased accountability and transparency, which will help them increase efficiency as well as avoid unnecessary maintenance and reduce delays when delivering freight.