10 Things Everyone Hates About Federal Railroad

The federal employers Railroad Administration and Technology

The Federal Employers’ Railroad Administration is responsible for safety regulations for rail and enforcement, as well as funding for rail, and research on rail improvement strategies.

FRA field inspectors make use of discretion to decide which cases warrant the exact and time consuming civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that the most serious violations of punishment are penalized.

Allies and members of SMART-TD made history in 2024 when they began pushing the FRA to keep two people in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight continues.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration implements a number of safety measures to ensure the health of employees as well as the public. It is responsible for establishing and enforcing rail safety regulations. It also oversees the funding for rail and conducts research on rail improvement strategies and technological developments. It also develops and implements a plan to maintain current rail services, infrastructure and capacity, and strategically expands and enhances the national rail network. The department expects that all rail operators adhere to strict guidelines, empower their employees and provide them with tools to be safe and successful. This includes participating in the secure close call reporting system, establishing labor-management occupational health and safety committees that have full participation from unions and anti-retaliation safeguards, and providing employees with personal protective equipment.

Inspectors of the FRA are at the forefront of enforcing safety on rail laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct investigations into hundreds of complaints. Those who violate the safety rules for rail can be subject to civil penalties. Safety inspectors at the agency have a wide decision-making power to determine if a violation falls under the legal definition of an act that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also reviews all reports submitted by regional offices to ensure that they are legal before assessing penalties. This discretion is exercised both at the regional and field levels to ensure that civil penalties are only used in cases that warrant their use.

To be considered guilty of a civil offense, a rail employee must know the rules and regulations that govern their actions. They also must be aware that they disregard these standards. The agency doesn't consider that a person who acts in response to a supervisor's direction is guilty of committing a willful crime. 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 in the steel mill isn't considered to be part of the overall rail system of transportation even being physically connected to it.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those related to safety and the movement of hazardous materials. The agency oversees railway finance, including grants and loan to improve service and infrastructure. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies as well as industry to devise strategies to improve the nation's rail system. This includes ensuring the existing rail infrastructure and services, in addition to addressing the need for additional capacity and strategically expanding the network and coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.

Although the majority of the agency's work focuses on freight transportation, it also manages the transportation of passengers. The agency aims to connect people to destinations they desire and offer more options for travel. The agency is focused on improving the experience for passengers, enhancing the safety of the current fleet, and making sure that the railway system continues to function efficiently.

Railroads must comply with many federal regulations, including those related to the size of crews on trains. In recent times, this issue has become controversial. Some states have passed legislation mandating two-person crews on trains. This final rule outlines the minimum requirements for crew size at an international level, and ensures that all railroads are held to the same safety standards.

This rule also requires that every railroad that has a one-person crew notify FRA and submit a risk analysis. This will enable FRA to assess the requirements of each operation to those of a two-person standard crew operation. Additionally this rule alters the standard of review for the special approval petition from determining whether the operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining whether the operation is secure or as safe as a two-crewmember operation.

During the period of public comment for this rule, a number of people voiced their support for a requirement for two persons on the crew. A form letter sent by 29 people expressed their concern that a single crew member would not be as quick to respond to train malfunctions or grade crossing incidents or assist emergency response personnel at a highway-rail grade crossing. Commenters emphasized that human factors are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger team could ensure the security of the train as well as its cargo.

Technology

Freight and passenger railroads employ numerous technologies to enhance efficiency, increase security, increase safety and more. The rail industry vernacular includes many specific terms and acronyms, but some of the most significant developments include machine vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains, rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly known as drones).

Technology isn't merely replacing jobs, it's also empowering individuals to perform their work more effectively and safely. 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 moving closer to becoming a reality.

As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable transportation for the entire nation In its ongoing effort to ensure safe, reliable and affordable transportation for the nation, the Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This multi-billion dollar project will see tunnels, bridges, tracks and power systems updated and stations being rebuilt or replaced. FRA's recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will dramatically expand the agency's rail improvements 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 found that it excelled in engaging, maintaining communication with inputs from a variety of stakeholders. But it must be more focused on how its research contributes to the department's primary objective of ensuring the safe movement of goods and people by rail.

One area where the agency might be able improve its effectiveness is in identifying and supporting the advancement of automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the main industry association for the freight rail industry that is focused on research, policy and standard setting and has 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 development of an automated rail taxonomy. It is a standardization system that can clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that could be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will need to know the degree of risk that the industry perceives with fully automated operation, and if the industry is considering any additional safeguards to minimize that risk.

Innovation

Railroads are adopting technology to boost worker safety, make business processes more efficient, and ensure that the cargo that they transport arrives at its destination intact. These innovations range from sensors and cameras that monitor freight to innovative railcar designs which keep hazardous cargo safe during transportation. Certain of these technologies provide a way for railroads to send emergency responders to the scene of an accident so they can swiftly mitigate risks to property and lives.

Positive Train Control (PTC) is one of the most significant innovations in rail. It is designed to keep train-to-train accidents out of the way, as well as situations where trains are on track they shouldn't be, and other accidents caused by human errors. The system is a three-part system comprised of onboard locomotive systems that track the train and wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a huge backend server that gathers and analyzes data.

Passenger railroads also embrace technology to enhance safety and security. Amtrak, for example, is testing the use of drones in order to help security personnel on trains locate passengers and other items in an emergency. The company is also looking into different ways to use drones, such as using drones to inspect bridges and other infrastructure such as replacing the lights on railway towers, which can be dangerous for workers to climb.

Other technologies that can be used for railways for passengers include smart track technology, which can detect the presence of objects or people on the tracks and send an alert to drivers when it's unsafe for them to proceed. These types of technology are especially useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized as well as other issues that can arise in the off-hours, when traffic levels are lower and fewer people are around to witness an accident.

Telematics is yet another significant technological advancement in the railway industry. It allows railways, shippers and other parties to track a traincar in real-time. These capabilities provide railcar operators and their crews more accountability and visibility and can aid in improving efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays in the delivery of freight to customers.