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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for the safety of rail, regulations and enforcement, rail funding, and research on improving rail strategies. FRA field inspectors use discretion to decide which cases merit the precise and time consuming civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that the most serious violations of punishment are punished. Members of SMART-TD and their allies made history in 2024 when they began pushing the FRA to allow two people in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight continues. Safety The Federal Railroad Administration implements a variety of safety measures to protect the health of employees as well as the public. It creates and enforces safety regulations for rail, administers rail funding and researches strategies for improving rail and technologies. It also creates the implementation and maintenance of plans for the maintenance of the current infrastructure and services for rail. It also expands and improves strategically the national rail network. The department requires that all rail employers adhere to strict guidelines that empower their employees and provide them with the tools to be safe and successful. This includes the confidential close-call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational safety and health committees with full participation from unions and anti-retaliation clauses and giving employees the necessary personal protective equipment. Inspectors of the FRA are at the forefront of enforcing safety on rail regulations and laws. They conduct routine inspections on equipment and investigate hundreds of complaints. Civil penalties can be imposed on those who violate railroad safety laws. The safety inspectors of the agency are able to decide on the extent to which an incident falls within 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 ensure they are legal prior to imposing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at both the field and regional levels helps ensure that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is used only in situations that are truly deserving of the effect of a civil fine. A rail employee must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern his or her actions, and not knowingly violate those rules to commit a criminal offense that is punishable by a civil penalty. The agency doesn't consider an individual who acted on a supervisor's directive has committed a willful offense. The agency defines “general railroad system” as the entire network that transports passengers and goods within and between cities and metropolitan areas. The trackage of a plant railroad in the steel mill is not considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, even though it is physically connected. Regulation The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, ranging from those related to safety and the movement of hazardous materials. The agency also manages financing for rail which includes loans and grants for improvements to infrastructure and service. The agency works with other DOT agencies and with industry to develop strategies to improve the nation's railroad system. This includes maintaining the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the need for capacity expansion and expanding the network strategically as well as coordinating the national and regional system development and planning. The agency is mostly responsible for freight transportation, but also supervises passenger transportation. The agency is working to connect people to the places they'd like to visit and offer more options for travel. The agency's primary focus is on improving the passenger's experience as well as enhancing the safety of its existing fleet, and ensuring that the rail system continues to operate efficiently. Railroads are required to abide with a range of federal regulations, including those relating to the size and composition of the train crews. This issue has become controversial in recent years, with some states passing legislation to require 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 rule also requires that each railroad operating a one-person crew notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will enable FRA to compare the parameters of each operation with the standard two-person crew operation. Additionally this rule alters the criteria for reviewing the special approval petition from determining whether the operation is “consistent with railroad safety” to determining if approving the operation would be as safer or more secure than an operation with two crew members. During the period of public comment on this rule, a large number of people expressed their support for a requirement of two persons on the crew. A form letter sent by 29 people outlined their concerns that a lone crewmember could not be as quick to respond to train malfunctions or grade crossing incidents or assist emergency responders at a highway-rail grade crossing. Commenters emphasized that human factor are responsible for more than half of all railroad accidents. They believe that a bigger crew will ensure the safety of the train and its cargo. Technology Railroads for passenger and freight use various technologies to enhance efficiency, increase security, increase safety and much more. The language used in the rail industry contains a myriad of distinct terms and acronyms but some of the more notable developments include machines-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 replacing some jobs, it's also empowering individuals to perform their work more efficiently and with greater security. Railroads that transport passengers are using smartphones apps and contactless fare payment cards in order to boost ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other innovations such as autonomous rail cars are coming closer to reality. As part of its ongoing efforts to improve safe, reliable and affordable transportation for the entire nation The Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollar project that will see tunnels and bridges restored as well as tracks and power systems upgraded, and stations reconstructed or upgraded. The FRA's rail improvement program will be significantly expanded by the recently passed bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a major piece in this effort. Recent National Academies review of the office found it excelled at engaging, maintaining communication and using inputs from a variety of stakeholders. It is still required to focus on how its research contributes to the department's main goal of ensuring safe movement of people and goods by railways. One area where the agency might be able to increase its effectiveness is in identifying and assisting the advancement 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 likely to be interested in the creation of an automated rail taxonomy, which is 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 believes is associated with the introduction of fully automated operation and whether the industry is considering adding additional protections to minimize the risk. Innovation Rail companies are adopting technology to improve worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the freight they transport arrives at its destination in good condition. Examples of this technological advancement include the use of sensors and cameras to monitor freight, to new railcar designs that keep dangerous cargo secure during transit. Certain of these technologies allow railroads dispatch emergency personnel directly to the scene of an accident to reduce the danger and minimize the damage to people and property. Positive Train Control (PTC) is among the most significant developments in rail. It will keep train-to-train accidents out of the way, as well as situations when trains are in a position they shouldn't, and other incidents caused by human error. This system is a three-part process consisting of onboard locomotive systems that track the train and wayside networks that connect with the locomotive, and a huge backend server that collects and analyzes data. Railroads that transport passengers are also embracing technology to enhance safety and security. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with the use of drones to assist security personnel in locating passengers and other items aboard trains in case in the event of an emergency. The company is also exploring other ways to use drones, including deploying drones to conduct inspections of bridges as well as other infrastructure, like replacing the lights on railway towers, which can be dangerous for workers to climb. Smart track technology is a different technology that is used in railways that transport passengers. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and warn drivers if it is unsafe to continue. fela lawsuits are especially useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized or other problems in the evenings, when traffic is low and there are fewer witnesses to an accident. Telematics is another important technological advancement in the railway industry. It lets railways, shippers, and other stakeholders to track a traincar in real-time. These capabilities give railcar owners and crews better control and visibility. They can also help them improve efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance, and prevent delays in delivering freight to customers.