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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for the safety of rail, regulations and enforcement, as well as funding for rail, and research on rail improvement strategies. FRA inspectors on the ground make use of discretion to determine which cases are worthy of the lengthy and precise civil penalty procedure. This allows them to ensure that the most serious violations are punished. Members of SMART-TD and their allies have made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to ensure that two people are in the locomotive cab of freight trains. The fight continues. Safety The Federal Railroad Administration implements a number of safety measures to protect the health of employees and public. It is responsible for establishing and enforcing regulations for rail safety. It also manages rail funding and studies rail improvement strategies and technological developments. It also formulates and implements a plan to maintain current infrastructure, rail services and capacity, and strategically develops and improves the nation's rail network. The department expects all rail companies to adhere to the strictest rules and regulations, empower their employees and provide them with the tools to be successful and safe. This includes participation in the confidential close-call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational health and safety committees, with full union participation, as well as protection against retaliation and providing employees with needed personal protective equipment. Inspectors of the FRA are at the forefront of enforcing rail safety regulations and laws. They conduct regular inspections of equipment and conduct a multitude of investigations into complaints of noncompliance. Those who violate the rail safety laws could be penalized civilly. Safety inspectors from the agency have a broad discretion to determine if violations fall within the statutory definition of an offense that is punishable with civil penalties. Additionally, the Office of Chief Counsel's safety department reviews all reports received by regional offices for legal sufficiency before assessing penalties. This discretion is exercised both at the regional and field levels to ensure that civil penalties are only applied in cases that warrant their use. A rail worker must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern their actions and be aware of the rules to commit a civil penalty-worthy offense. However the agency does not consider anyone who is acting under a direction by a supervisor as having committed an intentional violation. The agency defines “general railroad system” as the entire system that carries goods and passengers within and between metropolitan areas and cities. A plant railroad's trackage in a steel mill is not considered part of the general transportation system that trains even although it is physically connected to it. Regulation The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible to establish regulations for train operations, such as those relating to safety and the movement of hazardous substances. The agency oversees rail finance, which includes grants and loan for infrastructure and service improvement. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and industry to devise strategies for improving the rail system of the United States. This includes ensuring the existing rail infrastructure and services, addressing the need for capacity expansion, expanding the network strategically as well as coordinating the national and regional system development and planning. Although the majority of the agency's work is focused on freight transportation, it also oversees passenger transportation. The agency is working to provide more options for passengers and connect passengers with the places they'd like to go. The agency is focused on improving the experience for passengers as well as improving the safety of the current fleet, and making sure that the rail network continues to operate efficiently. Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, including those related to the size of crews on trains. In recent years this issue has been a source of contention. Certain states have passed legislation that requires two-person teams on trains. This final rule defines federally the minimum size crew requirements, making sure that all railroads follow the same safety standards. This rule also requires that each railroad operating with a crew of one notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will allow FRA to better understand the specifics of each operation and compare them with the parameters of a normal two-person crew operation. In addition, this rule changes the standard of review for a special approval petition from determining whether an operation is “consistent with railroad safety” to determining whether the operation is safer or more secure than a two-crewmember operation. During the public comment period on this rule, a large number of people backed the requirement for a two-person crew. In a letter to the editor 29 people expressed their concerns that a single member of the crew is not capable of responding in a timely manner to train malfunctions or incidents at grade crossings or assist emergency response personnel at a highway-rail level crossing. The commenters noted that human factors account for more than half of all railroad accidents, and they believe that a larger team would help ensure the safety of the train and its cargo. fela lawyers and passenger railroads employ a wide array of technologies to increase efficiency, improve security, increase safety and much more. Rail industry jargon covers a variety of distinct terms and acronyms. Some of the most prominent include machine vision systems (also called drones), instrumented rail-inspection systems driverless trains rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones). Technology isn't just replacing certain jobs — it's empowering people to perform their jobs better and safer. Passenger railroads are using smartphones and contactless fare payment cards to increase ridership and make the system more efficient. Other developments like autonomous rail cars are moving closer to reality. As part of its ongoing effort to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable transportation for the entire 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 FRA's rail improvements program will be substantially increased by the recently approved bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a key component of this effort. The National Academies' recent review of the office concluded that it excelled in engaging, maintaining communications using inputs from a variety of stakeholders. It still needs to be aware of how its research contributes towards the department's primary goal of ensuring the safety of people and goods via rail. The agency could enhance its effectiveness 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 standardization, has established a Technical Advisory Group on Autonomous Train Operations to help in developing industry standards for implementing the technology. The FRA is interested in the development of a taxonomy to describe automated rail vehicles which defines clearly and consistently different levels of automation. This could apply to rail transit as well as on-road vehicles. The agency would like to know the amount of risk that the industry perceives with fully automated operation, and if the industry is contemplating any additional safeguards to reduce that risk. Innovation Rail companies are embracing technology to improve worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes and ensure that the freight they transport is delivered in good condition. These innovations range from sensors and cameras that monitor freight, to new railcar designs that help keep dangerous cargo safe during transportation. Some of these technologies offer railroads the ability to send emergency response personnel to areas of accidents so that they can swiftly reduce damage and reduce the risk to property and people. Positive Train Control (PTC) is one of the most significant developments in rail. It will prevent train-to-train accidents, situations when trains are in a position they shouldn't be, and other accidents caused by human error. The system is comprised of three parts: onboard locomotive systems which track the train; wayside networks which communicate with the locomotive and a massive server that analyzes and collects data. Railroads that transport passengers are also embracing technology to improve safety and security. Amtrak, for example, is experimenting with the use of drones in order to help train security staff locate passengers and other items in the event of an emergency. The company is also exploring ways to make use of drones. They could be used to inspect bridges and other infrastructures or to replace the lighting on railway towers that are hazardous for workers to climb. Smart track technology is a different technology that can be utilized in railways that transport passengers. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and warn motorists that it is not safe to continue. These kinds of technologies are particularly useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized and other issues during times when traffic volumes are lowest and fewer people are around to witness an accident. Another important technological breakthrough in the rail industry is telematics, which allows railroads, shippers and other stakeholders to monitor the condition and status of a traincar by real-time tracking. Such capabilities give railcar operators and their crews more accountability and transparency and aid in improving efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance, and prevent delays in delivering freight to customers.