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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces rail safety regulations The Federal Railroad Administration also provides funding for rail and conducts research on strategies to improve rail infrastructure. FRA field inspectors make use of discretion to decide which cases warrant the exact and time consuming civil penalty process. This helps ensure that the most serious violations are punished. Allies and members of SMART-TD have made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the locomotive cab of freight trains. The fight continues. Safety The Federal Railroad Administration implements a variety of safety measures to protect the health of employees and public. It develops and enforces safety regulations for rail as well as manages funding for rail and researches rail improvement strategies and technologies. It also creates plans, implements and maintains an action plan to maintain current rail services and infrastructure. It also develops and improves the rail network across the nation. The department demands that all rail employers adhere to strict guidelines and empower their employees, and provide them with tools to be safe and successful. This includes taking part in an anonymous close-call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational safety and health committees with full-union participation and antiretaliation provisions and providing employees with the needed personal protective gear. FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections on equipment and conduct investigations into hundreds of complaints. Those who violate rail safety laws may be subject to civil penalties. Safety inspectors at the agency have wide decision-making power to determine if violations fall within the definition provided by law of an offense that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also reviews all reports submitted by regional offices to ensure they are legal prior to imposing penalties. This discretion is exercised at both the regional and field levels to ensure that civil penalties are only applied in situations that warrant them. To be considered guilty of a civil offense an employee of a railroad must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern the conduct of his or her employees. They must also be aware of and ignore these rules. The agency does not believe an individual who acted upon a directive from a supervisor is guilty of committing a willful crime. The agency defines the “general railroad system of transportation” as the whole network that allows passengers and goods to travel within cities and metropolitan areas, or between them. A plant railroad's trackage in the steel mill isn't considered to be part of the overall transportation system by rail, even being physically connected to it. Regulation The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those related to safety and movement of hazardous materials. The agency also manages rail financing which includes loans and grants for improvements to infrastructure and service. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and with industry to develop strategies for improving the nation's railroad system. This includes maintaining the current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the needs for additional capacity, expanding the network strategically, and coordinating regional and national system planning and development. While the majority of the agency's activities are focused on freight transportation, it also oversees passenger transportation. The agency is working to offer more options for passengers and connect passengers with the places they want to go. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience, enhancing the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring the railway system continues to function efficiently. Railroads are required to comply with a variety of federal regulations, which include those relating to the size and composition of the train crews. In recent times, this issue has become a source of controversy. Certain states have passed legislation requiring two-person teams on trains. This final rule establishes federally the minimum size of crew requirements, making sure that all railroads adhere to the same safety standards. This rule also requires that each railroad operating with a crew of one notify FRA and submit a risk analysis. This will allow FRA to better identify the specifics of each operation and compare them to the standard two-person crew operation. This rule also alters the standard for reviewing an application for special approval from determining if an operation is “consistent” with railroad safety to determining if the operation is safer or more secure than a two-person crew operations. During the period of public comments for this rule, a number of people voted for a requirement of a two person crew. In a form letter 29 people expressed their concerns that a single member of the crew is not able to respond in a timely manner to train malfunctions or incidents at grade crossings or assist emergency response personnel on an elevated highway crossing. Commenters emphasized that human factors are responsible for a majority of railroad accidents. They believe that a larger crew will ensure the safety of the train and its cargo. Technology Railroads that transport passengers and freight employ various technologies to increase efficiency, increase safety, boost security and more. Rail industry jargon comprises various distinct terms and acronyms. Some of the most prominent include machine vision systems (also known as drones) and rail-inspection systems that are instrumented, driverless train rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicle (also known as drones). Technology isn't merely replacing jobs; it's helping individuals to perform their work more effectively and safely. Railroads that transport passengers use smartphones and contactless fare cards to boost passengership and boost the efficiency of their system. Other developments like autonomous rail cars are coming closer to becoming reality. As part of its ongoing effort to improve safe, reliable, and affordable transportation for the 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 bridges, tunnels tracks, power systems and tracks updated and stations renovated or replaced. The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will significantly grow the agency's rail improvement programs. The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a crucial element in this effort. The National Academies' recent review of the office found that it was successful in engaging, maintaining communication using inputs from a wide range of stakeholders. It must continue to focus on how its research contributes towards the department's primary objective of ensuring the safety of people and goods by railways. The agency could increase its efficiency by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technology. The Association of American Railroads, the primary freight rail association that focuses on research, policy, and standard-setting and has created a Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to help develop industry standards to implement the technology. FRA will be interested in the creation of an automated rail taxonomy. It is a standardization system that can clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that would be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will want to know the amount of risk the industry is assessing with fully automated operation, and if the industry is considering additional measures to mitigate that risk. Innovation Rail companies are embracing technology to improve worker safety, boost efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the freight they transport reaches its destination in good condition. These innovations vary from cameras and sensors that monitor freight to new railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo safe during transportation. Some of these technologies allow railroads to dispatch emergency personnel directly to the scene of an accident to reduce the danger and minimize the damage to people and property. One of the most renowned innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC), which will inhibit collisions between trains and train, situations where trains are on tracks that shouldn't be, and other accidents resulting from human errors. The system is comprised of three components of onboard locomotive systems that track the train; wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a massive server that collects and analyses data. fela lawsuit settlements for passengers also adopt technology to increase safety and security. Amtrak, for example, is testing the use of drones to assist train security personnel locate passengers and other items in an emergency. Amtrak is also looking into ways to make use of drones. They could be used to check bridges and other infrastructure, or to replace the lighting on railway towers that are dangerous for workers to climb. Other technologies that can be utilized for passenger railroads include smart track technology, which can detect the presence of objects or people on the tracks and issue a warning to drivers if it's unsafe for them to proceed. These types of technology are especially beneficial in detecting unsafe crossings and other problems in the off-hours, when traffic levels are lower and fewer people are around to witness an accident. Telematics is another important technological breakthrough in the rail industry. It allows railways, shippers and other stakeholders to monitor a traincar in real-time. Railcar operators and crews will benefit from increased accountability and transparency which can help them to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary maintenance. It will also help avoid delays when delivering freight.