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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces rail safety regulations, provides rail funding and conducts research on strategies to improve rail infrastructure. FRA inspectors on the ground use discretion to decide which cases are worthy of the lengthy and precise civil penalty process. This helps ensure that the most serious violations are punished. SMART-TD and its allies made history by 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two people should be in the locomotive cabs of freight trains. The fight is not over. Safety The Federal Railroad Administration implements a number of safety measures to safeguard the health of its employees and public. It creates and enforces rail safety regulations as well as manages funding for rail and studies strategies for improving rail infrastructure and technologies. It also formulates and implements a plan to ensure the current infrastructure, services, and capacity, and strategically expands and improves the national rail network. The department demands that all rail operators adhere to strict rules, empower their employees and provide them with the tools to ensure their safety and success. This includes participating in the secure close call reporting system, setting up occupational health and safety committees that have full union participation, as well as protection against retaliation and providing employees with the necessary personal safety equipment. Inspectors of the FRA are at the forefront of enforcing rail safety regulations and laws. They perform routine inspections on equipment and conduct investigations into hundreds of complaints. Anyone who violates the rail safety laws could be penalized civilly. The agency's safety inspectors have broad discretion over whether a particular violation meets the statutory description of a crime that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also examines the reports submitted by regional offices to determine if 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 those situations which truly warrant the deterrent impact of a civil penalty. A rail worker must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern his actions and be aware of the rules to commit a criminal offense that is punishable by a civil penalty. However the agency doesn't consider any individual who is acting under a direction from a supervisor to have committed an intentional violation. The agency defines “general railroad system” as the whole network that carries goods and passengers within and between cities and metropolitan areas. The trackage of a plant railroad within a steelmill is not considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, even though it's physically connected. Regulation The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing regulations for trains that pertain to safety and the movement of hazardous substances. The agency also manages rail financing including loans and grants for infrastructure and improvements to service. The agency works with other DOT agencies and the industry to develop strategies for improving the country's railroad system. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the need for capacity expansion, expanding the network strategically as well as coordinating the national and regional system planning and development. While the majority of the agency's work is focused on freight transportation, it also manages the transportation of passengers. The agency is working to offer more options for passengers and connect people with the places they want to go. The agency's primary focus is on improving the passenger's experience as well as enhancing the safety of its current fleet, and making sure that the rail network is operating efficiently. Railroads must comply with many federal regulations, including those pertaining to the size of crews on trains. This is an issue of contention 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, making sure that all railroads follow the same safety standards. This also requires every railroad that operates a single-person train crew to notify 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 with those of a normal two-person crew operation. In addition, this rule changes the review standard for a special approval petition from to determining whether an operation is “consistent with railroad safety” to determining whether approving the operation is secure or as safe as a two-crewmember operation. During the public comment period for this rule, a lot of people supported a two-person crew requirement. A letter from 29 people expressed their concern that a single crew member would 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 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 numerous technologies to enhance efficiency, improve safety, boost security and much more. The rail industry vernacular includes a variety of unique 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 called drones). Technology isn't just about replacing certain jobs. It allows people to perform their jobs more effectively and with greater security. Passenger railroads are using smartphone apps and contactless fare payment cards to increase ridership and make the system more efficient. Other innovations, such as autonomous rail vehicles, are inching closer to reality. The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve secure, reliable, and affordable transportation in America, is focused on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollars initiative that will see bridges and tunnels rebuilt, tracks and power systems upgraded and stations rebuilt or upgraded. FRA's recently passed 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. The National Academies' recent review of the office concluded that it excelled at engaging, maintaining communication with and using inputs from a wide range of stakeholders. But it must focus more on how its research aids in the department's main objective of ensuring the safe movement of goods and people via railway. fela lawsuits could improve its effectiveness by identifying and supporting automated train systems and technology. The Association of American Railroads (AAR), the primary industry association for the freight rail industry that is focused on research policy, standard-setting and policy, established an Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to help create standards within the industry. FRA is interested in the creation of an automated rail taxonomy. It is a standard that will clearly and consistently define the different levels of automation that would be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency would like to know the degree of risk the industry perceives with fully automated operation, and whether the industry is considering additional measures to mitigate the risk. Innovation Rail companies are adopting technology to increase worker safety, increase efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the freight they transport arrives at its destination intact. Examples of this kind of innovations range from the use of sensors and cameras to monitor freight, to new railcar designs that help keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Certain of these technologies provide a way for railroads to dispatch emergency personnel to locations of accidents so they can swiftly mitigate risks to property and people. One of the most well-known innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC), which will inhibit collisions between trains and trains, situations in which trains are on tracks where they shouldn't be, as well as other accidents that result from human errors. The system is a three-part system comprised of locomotives onboard that track the train and wayside networks that connect with the locomotive and a massive backend server that collects and analyzes data. Trains for passengers are also adopting technology to bolster security and safety. Amtrak for instance, is experimenting with drones in order to help security personnel on trains locate passengers and items in an emergency. The company is also exploring other ways to use drones, for instance, using drones to conduct inspections of bridges and other infrastructure, like replacing the lighting on railway towers that could be dangerous for workers to climb. Smart track technology is a different technology that is used in passenger railroads. It can detect people or objects on tracks and notify drivers if it is unsafe to continue. These technologies are particularly effective in detecting unsafe crossings or other problems in the evenings, when traffic is low and there are fewer witnesses to an accident. Another important technological breakthrough in the railway industry is telematics which allows shippers, railroads and other stakeholders to see the condition and status of a traincar through real-time tracking. Railcar operators and crews can benefit from greater accountability and transparency which can help them to improve efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and delay in the delivery of freight.