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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 field inspectors use discretion to decide which cases warrant the exact and time consuming civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that the violations most deserving of punishment are penalized. Allies and members of SMART-TD made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight isn't over. Safety The Federal Railroad Administration has a variety of safety measures in place to ensure the safety and health of employees and the public. It creates and enforces safety regulations for rail, administers rail funding and studies strategies for improving rail infrastructure and new technologies. It also develops and implements a plan to ensure the current infrastructure, services, and capacity, and strategically develops and improves the national rail network. The department expects all rail companies to adhere to strict rules and regulations, and empower their employees and provide them with the tools to succeed and stay safe. This includes participating in the confidential close-call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational safety and health committees that have full participation from unions and anti-retaliation clauses and providing employees with the needed personal protective equipment. Inspectors of the FRA are at the leading edge of enforcing rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct hundreds of investigations into complaints of noncompliance. Anyone who violates rail safety laws may be penalized civilly. The agency's safety inspectors have broad discretion over whether an individual violation is in line with the legal definition of a criminal penalty-worthy act. Additionally, the Office of Chief Counsel's security division examines all reports submitted from regional offices to determine their legality before determining penalties. This discretion is exercised both at the regional and field levels to ensure that civil penalties are only used when they are necessary. To be guilty of a civil offense an employee of a railroad must know the rules and regulations governing his or her actions. They also must be aware that they disregard these standards. However the agency does not take any person who acts under a directive by a supervisor as having committed an intentional violation. The agency defines the “general railroad system of transportation” as the entire system that allows passengers and goods to travel within metropolitan areas or between them. The trackage of a plant railroad at the steel mill isn't considered to be part of the general transportation system that trains even though it is physically connected to it. Regulation The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing train regulations including those related to safety and the movement of dangerous substances. The agency is responsible for managing railway finance, including loans and grants to improve service and infrastructure. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and with industry to develop strategies to improve the country's railroad system. This includes maintaining the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the needs for additional capacity, expanding the network strategically and coordinating the regional and national system development and planning. The agency is primarily responsible for freight transportation but also manages passenger transportation. The agency is working to connect people to places they want and provide more choices for travel. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience and improving the safety of the current fleet, and ensuring the railway system continues to function efficiently. Railroads must comply with many federal regulations, including those pertaining to the size of the crews on trains. In recent times this issue has become controversial. Some states have passed legislation mandating two-person teams on trains. This final rule codifies federally the minimum size of crew requirements, making sure 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. fela lawsuits will allow FRA to compare the parameters of each operation with the standard two-person crew operation. Additionally this rule alters the standard of review for an approval petition that is based on determining whether an operation is “consistent with railroad safety” to determining whether the operation is safe or safer than an operation with two crew members. During the public comment period for 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 is not in a position to respond as quickly to incidents or train malfunctions at grade crossings, or assist emergency response personnel on an elevated highway crossing. Commenters noted that human factors are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents. They believe that a bigger crew would ensure the safety of the train as well as its cargo. Technology Railroads for passenger and freight use various technologies to increase efficiency, increase safety, boost security and more. The rail industry vernacular includes a variety of unique terms and acronyms, but some of the more significant developments include machine vision systems, instrumentsed rail inspection systems, driverless trains, rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly called drones). Technology isn't just replacing some jobs; it's helping people to do their job better and safer. Railroads that transport passengers are using smartphones apps and contactless fare payment cards to increase ridership and make the system more efficient. Other innovations, like autonomous rail vehicles, are inching closer to becoming a reality. As part of its ongoing efforts to advance secure, reliable and affordable transportation for the nation, the Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This multi-billion-dollar effort will see bridges, tunnels tracks, power systems, and tracks upgraded and stations renovated or replaced. The FRA's rail improvements program will be greatly expanded by the recently passed bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a major component of this initiative. The National Academies' recent review of the office found that it was successful in engaging, maintaining communications with inputs from a variety of stakeholders. It is still required to consider how its research contributes towards the department's primary goal of ensuring the safety of people and goods via rail. The agency could improve its efficiency by identifying and supporting automated train systems and technology. The Association of American Railroads, the freight rail industry's primary association that focuses on research, policy, and standard-setting and has created a Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to help in developing industry standards for the implementation of the technology. FRA is interested in the development of an automated rail taxonomy. It is a system of standards to clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that will be applicable to both rail and on-road transit vehicles. The agency will also need to know the degree of safety risk that the industry sees with implementing fully automated operation and whether or not the industry is contemplating additional safeguards to mitigate that risk. Innovation Rail companies are adopting technology to enhance worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the freight they transport is delivered in good condition. These innovations vary from cameras and sensors that monitor freight, to new railcar designs which keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Certain of these technologies allow railroads dispatch emergency personnel directly to accident sites to reduce the danger and minimize the damage to people and property. Positive Train Control (PTC) is one of the most significant developments 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 error. The 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 analyzes and collects data. Passenger railroads also embrace technology to enhance safety and security. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with the use of drones to assist security staff in locating passengers and other items aboard trains in the event in an emergency. The company is also exploring ways to use drones. They could be used to check bridges and other infrastructure or to replace the lighting on railway towers, which are dangerous for workers to climb. Smart track technology is a different technology that can be utilized in railways for passengers. It can detect people or objects on tracks and notify drivers that it is unsafe to continue. These kinds of technologies can be particularly beneficial in detecting unsafe crossings and other issues during times when traffic is at its lowest and there are fewer people to witness an accident. Another important technological advancement in the rail industry is telematics, which enables railroads, shippers and other stakeholders to view the status and condition of a traincar through real-time tracking. Crews and railcar operators can benefit from greater accountability and visibility, which will help them improve efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays when delivering freight.