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Technology Is Making Federal Railroad Better Or Worse?
The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces rail safety regulations It also provides rail funding and conducts research on strategies to improve rail infrastructure.

FRA inspectors on the ground employ discretion to decide which cases merit the time-consuming and precise civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that those violations most deserving of punishment are punished.

SMART-TD members and allies made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the locomotive cab of freight trains. The fight is not over.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration has a variety of safety measures in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees as well as the general public. It is responsible for developing and enforcing regulations for rail safety. It also administers rail funding and studies rail improvement strategies and technology. It also develops plans, implements and maintains an action plan to maintain current rail services and infrastructure. It also works to expand and improve the national rail network. The department requires all railroad employers to abide by strict rules and regulations, empower their workers and provide them with the tools to be successful and safe. This includes participating in the secure close call reporting system, establishing occupational health and safety committees with full union participation, as well as anti-retaliation safeguards, and providing employees with personal protection equipment.

Inspectors of the FRA are at the leading edge of enforcing rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct regular inspections of equipment and conduct a multitude of investigations into complaints of noncompliance. Anyone who is in violation of rail safety laws may be punished with civil penalties. Safety inspectors at the agency have a broad discretion to determine if an act is within the statutory definition of an act that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also reviews all reports that regional offices submit to determine if they are legal prior to imposing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the field and regional levels ensures that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is applied only in cases which truly warrant the deterrent effect of a civil penalty.

To be guilty of a civil offense an employee of a railroad must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern their actions. They also must be aware that they not adhere to these rules. The agency doesn't consider that an individual who acts upon a directive from a supervisor is guilty of committing a willful crime. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the entire network that passengers and goods travel within metropolitan areas, or between them. The trackage of a plant railroad in a steelmill is not considered to be part of the overall rail transportation system, despite the fact that it's physically connected.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those pertaining to safety and movement of hazardous materials. The agency also oversees rail financing including loans and grants for infrastructure and improvements to service. The agency works with other DOT agencies as well as industry to develop strategies to improve the nation's rail system. This includes ensuring the current rail infrastructure and services as well as addressing the need for new capacity strategically expanding the network, and coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.

While the majority of the agency's activities are focused on freight transportation, it also oversees the transportation of passengers. The agency is working to connect people with the destinations they desire and offer more choices for travel. The agency is focused primarily on enhancing the experience for passengers and enhancing the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring that the rail network is operating efficiently.

Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, relating to the size of crews on trains. In recent times the issue has become controversial. Certain states have passed legislation mandating two-person crews on trains. This final rule codifies federally the minimum size of crew requirements, ensuring that all railroads adhere to the same safety standards.


This law also requires that each railroad operating with a crew of one notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will allow FRA to identify the specific parameters of each operation and compare them with the parameters of a normal two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the standard for reviewing an approval request that is a special case from determining whether an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety standards to determining whether the operation is as secure or safer than two-person crew operations.

During the public comment period for this rule, a lot of people expressed support for the requirement for a two-person crew. A letter from 29 people outlined their concerns that a lone crewmember could not be as quick to respond to train-related malfunctions or crossing incidents, or assist emergency response personnel at a highway-rail grade crossing. Commenters pointed out that human factors are responsible for more than half of all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger crew will ensure the security of the train and its cargo.

Technology

Railroads that transport passengers and freight employ various technologies to increase efficiency, increase security, improve safety and much more. Rail industry jargon comprises a variety of distinct terms and acronyms. Some of the most well-known include machine vision systems (also known as drones), instrumented rail-inspection systems driverless trains rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (also called drones).

Technology isn't just replacing some jobs, it's also empowering individuals to perform their work more effectively and safely. Railroads that transport passengers 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 cars are coming closer to reality.

The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve secure, reliable, and affordable transportation in America is focusing on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This multi-billion-dollar project will see bridges, tunnels, tracks and power systems updated, and stations renovated or replaced. The FRA's rail improvement program will be substantially increased by the recently approved bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is an essential part of this initiative. The National Academies' recent review of the office found that it excelled at engaging, maintaining communication with inputs from a wide range of stakeholders. However, it needs to focus more on how its research aids in the department's main objective of ensuring the safe transportation of goods and people via rail.

One area where the agency could be able to increase its effectiveness is by identifying and assisting the development of automated train technology and systems. The Association of American Railroads (AAR), the primary industry association for the freight rail industry that focuses on research and policy, as well as standard setting and has established a Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to help establish standards for the industry.

FRA is interested in the group's development of an automated rail taxonomy, which is 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 want to know the degree of risk to safety that the industry believes is associated with implementing fully automated operation and whether the industry is contemplating additional protections to minimize the risk.

Innovation

Rail companies are embracing technology to increase worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the cargo they transport is delivered in good condition. Examples of this kind of technological advancement vary from the use sensors and cameras to monitor freight, to new railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Some of these technologies allow railroads to send emergency responders to areas of accidents so that they can swiftly mitigate risks to property and lives.

One of the most prominent innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC) which will prevent collisions between trains and trains, situations in which trains are on tracks that shouldn't be, and other accidents resulting from human error. This system is made up of three components consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train; wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a massive server that analyzes and collects data.

Railroads that transport passengers also use technology to increase safety and security. Amtrak is one example. It is experimenting with drones to help train security staff locate passengers and other items in an emergency. The company is also exploring ways to utilize drones. They could be used to inspect bridges and other infrastructure, or to replace the lights on railway towers that are hazardous for workers to climb.

Smart track technology is another technology that is used in passenger railroads. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and notify motorists that it is not safe to continue. These technologies are particularly useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized or other issues during the evenings when the traffic is lower and there are less witnesses to an accident.

fela claims railroad employees in the rail industry is telematics, which allows shippers, railroads and other stakeholders to monitor the condition and status of a traincar via real-time tracking. Crews and railcar operators can benefit from greater accountability and visibility which will allow them to increase efficiency as well as avoid unnecessary maintenance and delay in the delivery of freight.