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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for rail safety regulations and enforcement, rail funding and research on improving rail strategies. FRA field inspectors employ discretion to determine which cases merit the precise and time consuming civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that the most serious violations are punished. 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 continues. Safety The Federal Railroad Administration has a range of safety measures in place to ensure the safety and health of its employees and the general public. It is responsible for developing and enforcing safety regulations for rail. It also oversees rail funding, and conducts research on improvements to rail strategies and technologies. It also develops and implements a plan to maintain current infrastructure, services, and capacity and strategically expands and improves the national rail network. The department expects all rail companies to adhere to the strictest rules and regulations, empower their employees and provide them with tools to succeed and stay 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 giving employees the necessary personal protective gear. 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. Civil penalties may be imposed on those who violate the rail safety laws. The safety inspectors of the agency have a broad discretion on whether an incident falls within the statutory definition of a criminal penalty-worthy act. The Office of Chief Counsel’s safety division also examines all reports that regional offices submit to determine if they are legal prior to imposing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the regional and field levels helps ensure that the time-consuming, costly civil penalty process is used only in cases that truly warrant the deterrent effect of a civil penalty. Rail employees must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern their actions, and not knowingly violate those rules to commit a criminal offense that is punishable by a civil penalty. However the agency doesn't consider any individual who follows a directive by a supervisor as having committed a willful violation. The agency defines “general railroad system” as the entire system that carries goods and passengers within and between cities and metropolitan areas. The trackage of a plant railroad at a steel mill is not considered to be part of the general rail system of transportation, even though it is physically connected to it. Regulation The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing train regulations, such as those relating to safety and the transportation of dangerous substances. The agency also manages rail financing which includes loans and grants for infrastructure and improvements to service. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and with industry to develop strategies for improving the country's railroad system. This includes ensuring the existing rail infrastructure and services, making sure that there is enough capacity and strategically expanding the network and coordinating national and regional systems planning and development. The agency is responsible for freight transport, but also oversees passenger transport. The agency is working to connect people with the destinations they desire and offer more options for travel. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience as well as improving the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring that the railway system continues to function efficiently. Railroads must abide by a variety of federal regulations, including those related to the size of crews on trains. This issue has become controversial in recent years, with some states enacting legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule outlines the minimum crew size requirements at a federal level, ensuring that all railroads are subject to the same safety standards. This law also requires that each railroad that has a one-person crew notify FRA and submit a risk analysis. This will enable FRA to compare the parameters of each operation with the standard two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the criteria for reviewing an approval request that is a special case 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 operation. During the public comment period on this rule, many people expressed support for the requirement for a two-person crew. In a letter to the editor, 29 people expressed their concern that a single member of the crew will not be capable of responding as quickly to train accidents or malfunctions at grade crossings, or assist emergency response personnel on a highway-rail level crossing. fela claims railroad employees emphasized that human factor are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger team could ensure the safety of the train as well as its cargo. Technology Railroads for passenger and freight use numerous technologies to increase efficiency, increase safety, boost security and much more. Rail industry jargon comprises many distinct terms and acronyms. Some of the most notable include machine vision systems (also known as drones) instruments for rail-inspection systems, driverless train rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicle (also called drones). Technology isn't merely replacing jobs — it's empowering people to do their job better and safer. Passenger railroads are using smartphones and contactless fare payment cards in order to boost ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other innovations, like autonomous rail vehicles, are inching closer to becoming a reality. As part of its ongoing effort to advance 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 effort that will see tunnels and bridges rebuilt, tracks and power systems upgraded, and stations reconstructed or replaced. The FRA's rail improvement program will be substantially extended by the recently passed bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a key component in this effort. Recent National Academies review of the office revealed that it was successful in engaging with, maintaining communication and utilizing inputs of a wide 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 by railway. One area in which the agency could be able to improve its effectiveness is by identifying and assisting the development of automated train technology and systems. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the principal industry association for the freight rail industry that is focused on research, policy and standard setting, established an Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations in order to help create standards within the industry. FRA is interested in the group's creation of an automated rail taxonomy, a standard that will clearly and consistently define the different levels of automation that will be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will also be looking to understand the level of safety risk that the industry perceives associated with implementing fully automated operation and whether the industry is considering adding additional safeguards to mitigate that risk. Innovation Railroads are using technology to increase worker safety and improve business processes. efficient, and ensure that the freight they move reaches its destination safely. These innovations range from sensors and cameras that monitor freight to innovative railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Some of these technologies enable railroads to dispatch emergency personnel directly to the scene of an accident to minimize the danger and minimize the damage to property and people. Positive Train Control (PTC) is among the most significant developments in rail. It will stop train-to-train accidents, instances where trains are on track they shouldn't be, and other accidents caused by human errors. It is a three-part process consisting of onboard locomotive systems that track the train and wayside networks that connect with the locomotive and an enormous backend server that analyzes and collects data. Railroads that transport passengers also use technology to enhance security and safety. Amtrak, for example, is experimenting with drones to help train security personnel locate passengers and 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. Smart track technology is another 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 especially useful for detecting unauthorized crossings or other issues in the evenings, when traffic is low and there are less witnesses to an accident. Telematics is another important technological advancement in the rail industry. It allows railways, shippers and other stakeholders, to track a traincar in real-time. Such capabilities give railcar operators and crews better control and visibility. They can also help them improve efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance, and prevent delays in the delivery of freight to customers.