Is Tech Making Federal Railroad Better Or Worse?
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The federal employers’ liability act Railroad Administration and Technology
The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for the safety of rail, regulations and enforcement, rail funding and research on improving rail strategies.
FRA field inspectors employ discretion to decide which cases warrant the exact and time-consuming civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that the most serious violations are punished.
SMART-TD and its allies made history in 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two persons should be allowed in the cabs of freight trains. The fight is not over.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration implements a variety of safety measures to ensure the health of employees as well as the public. It develops and enforces regulations for rail safety, administers rail funding and studies strategies for improving rail infrastructure and technology. It also formulates the implementation and maintenance of plans for the maintenance of current rail services and infrastructure. It also works to expand and improve the national rail network. The department requires that all rail companies adhere to strict guidelines that empower their employees and provide them with tools to ensure their safety and success. This includes taking part in the confidential close-call reporting system, establishing labor-management occupational safety and health committees with full participation from unions and anti-retaliation clauses and giving employees the necessary personal protective equipment.
FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of rail safety regulations and laws. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct a myriad of investigations into complaints of non-compliance. Those who violate rail safety laws may be subject to civil penalties. Safety inspectors from the agency have broad discretion over whether an individual violation is in line with the statutory description of a crime 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 applied when they are necessary.
A rail worker must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern their actions and be aware of the standards to commit a criminal offense that is punishable by a civil penalty. The agency doesn't consider that an individual who acts on a supervisor's directive is guilty of committing a willful crime. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the entire system over which goods and passengers travel within metropolitan and city areas and between them. The trackage of a plant railroad within a steelmill is not considered to be part of the overall rail transportation system, even though it's physically connected.
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 grants and loan for infrastructure and service improvement. The agency works with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies to improve the nation's railroad system. This includes ensuring the existing rail infrastructure and services, addressing the need for capacity expansion and expanding the network strategically as well as coordinating the national and regional system development and planning.
The agency is mostly responsible for freight transport, but also supervises passenger transportation. The agency is working to connect people to the places they want and provide more choices for travel. The agency's primary focus is on enhancing the experience for passengers and enhancing the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring that the rail system continues to operate efficiently.
Railroads are required to abide with a range of federal regulations, which include those relating to the size and composition of the train crews. This is a controversial one in recent years, with a few states passing legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule codifies federally the minimum size crew requirements, ensuring 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 a risk analysis. This will allow FRA to better understand the specific parameters of each operation and compare them to those of a normal two-person crew operation. Additionally, this rule changes the criteria for reviewing the special approval petition from determining whether the operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining whether the operation would be as safe or safer than a two-crewmember operation.
During the public comment period on this rule, a large number of people backed a two-person crew requirement. In a form letter 29 people expressed their concerns that a single crewmember would not be able to respond as quickly to incidents or train malfunctions at grade crossings, or assist emergency response personnel on the highway-rail level crossing. The commenters emphasized that human factors are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents and they believe that a larger crew could help ensure the safety of the train and its cargo.
Technology
Railroads for passenger and freight use a wide array of technologies to enhance efficiency, increase safety, boost security and more. Rail industry jargon includes a variety of distinct terms and acronyms. Some of the most notable include machine vision systems (also called drones) and rail-inspection systems that are instrumented driverless trains, rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicle (also known as drones).
Technology isn't just replacing some jobs -- it's empowering people to perform their jobs more efficiently and with greater security. Passenger railroads are using smartphone apps and contactless fare payment cards to increase ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other developments, like autonomous rail vehicles, are moving closer to becoming a reality.
The federal employers’ liability Act Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve secure affordable, reliable, and secure transportation in America is focusing on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This multi-billion dollar project will see tunnels, bridges, tracks and power systems updated, and stations rebuilt or replace. FRA's recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure law will significantly grow the agency's rail improvement programs.
The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a key part of this effort. The National Academies' recent review of the office found that it excelled at keeping in touch using inputs from a variety of stakeholders. It is still required to consider how its research contributes towards the department's main goal of ensuring the safety of people and goods by railways.
The agency could increase its efficiency by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR), the primary industry association for the freight rail industry, which focuses on research, policy and standard setting and has established an 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 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 would like to know the level of risk the industry is assessing with fully automated operation, and if the industry is considering additional measures to mitigate the risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are adopting new technologies to enhance worker safety, boost efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the cargo they transport reaches its destination intact. Examples of such innovation vary from the use cameras and sensors to keep track of freight, and to new railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo safe during transit. Some of these technologies even provide a way for railroads to send emergency responders to the scene of an accident so they can swiftly reduce risks to property and lives.
Positive Train Control (PTC) is among the most significant innovations in rail. It will stop train-to-train accidents, instances when trains are in a position they shouldn't be, and other accidents caused by human error. This system is made up of three components of onboard locomotive systems that track the train; wayside networks which communicate with the locomotive; and a huge server that collects and analyses data.
Railroads that transport passengers are also embracing technology to enhance safety and security. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with drones to assist security staff in locating passengers and items on board trains in case of an emergency. The company is also exploring other possibilities to utilize drones, for fela claims railroad employees instance, using them to perform inspections of bridges and other infrastructure, like replacing the lighting on railway towers that could be dangerous for workers to climb.
Other technologies that can be utilized for passenger railroads include smart track technology, which is able to detect the presence of people or objects on the tracks and send out a warning to drivers if it's unsafe to travel. These technologies are especially effective in detecting unsafe crossings or other issues in the evenings when traffic is less and there are less witnesses to an accident.
Telematics is another important technological advance in the railway industry. It allows shippers, railways and other stakeholders, to follow a traincar's progress in real-time. These capabilities give railcar owners and crews better accountability and visibility and can aid in improving efficiency, prevent unnecessary maintenance, and prevent delays in delivering freight to customers.
The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for the safety of rail, regulations and enforcement, rail funding and research on improving rail strategies.
FRA field inspectors employ discretion to decide which cases warrant the exact and time-consuming civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that the most serious violations are punished.
SMART-TD and its allies made history in 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two persons should be allowed in the cabs of freight trains. The fight is not over.
Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration implements a variety of safety measures to ensure the health of employees as well as the public. It develops and enforces regulations for rail safety, administers rail funding and studies strategies for improving rail infrastructure and technology. It also formulates the implementation and maintenance of plans for the maintenance of current rail services and infrastructure. It also works to expand and improve the national rail network. The department requires that all rail companies adhere to strict guidelines that empower their employees and provide them with tools to ensure their safety and success. This includes taking part in the confidential close-call reporting system, establishing labor-management occupational safety and health committees with full participation from unions and anti-retaliation clauses and giving employees the necessary personal protective equipment.
FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of rail safety regulations and laws. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and conduct a myriad of investigations into complaints of non-compliance. Those who violate rail safety laws may be subject to civil penalties. Safety inspectors from the agency have broad discretion over whether an individual violation is in line with the statutory description of a crime 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 applied when they are necessary.
A rail worker must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern their actions and be aware of the standards to commit a criminal offense that is punishable by a civil penalty. The agency doesn't consider that an individual who acts on a supervisor's directive is guilty of committing a willful crime. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the entire system over which goods and passengers travel within metropolitan and city areas and between them. The trackage of a plant railroad within a steelmill is not considered to be part of the overall rail transportation system, even though it's physically connected.
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 grants and loan for infrastructure and service improvement. The agency works with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies to improve the nation's railroad system. This includes ensuring the existing rail infrastructure and services, addressing the need for capacity expansion and expanding the network strategically as well as coordinating the national and regional system development and planning.
The agency is mostly responsible for freight transport, but also supervises passenger transportation. The agency is working to connect people to the places they want and provide more choices for travel. The agency's primary focus is on enhancing the experience for passengers and enhancing the safety of the existing fleet, and ensuring that the rail system continues to operate efficiently.
Railroads are required to abide with a range of federal regulations, which include those relating to the size and composition of the train crews. This is a controversial one in recent years, with a few states passing legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule codifies federally the minimum size crew requirements, ensuring 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 a risk analysis. This will allow FRA to better understand the specific parameters of each operation and compare them to those of a normal two-person crew operation. Additionally, this rule changes the criteria for reviewing the special approval petition from determining whether the operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining whether the operation would be as safe or safer than a two-crewmember operation.
During the public comment period on this rule, a large number of people backed a two-person crew requirement. In a form letter 29 people expressed their concerns that a single crewmember would not be able to respond as quickly to incidents or train malfunctions at grade crossings, or assist emergency response personnel on the highway-rail level crossing. The commenters emphasized that human factors are responsible for more than half all railroad accidents and they believe that a larger crew could help ensure the safety of the train and its cargo.
Technology
Railroads for passenger and freight use a wide array of technologies to enhance efficiency, increase safety, boost security and more. Rail industry jargon includes a variety of distinct terms and acronyms. Some of the most notable include machine vision systems (also called drones) and rail-inspection systems that are instrumented driverless trains, rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicle (also known as drones).
Technology isn't just replacing some jobs -- it's empowering people to perform their jobs more efficiently and with greater security. Passenger railroads are using smartphone apps and contactless fare payment cards to increase ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other developments, like autonomous rail vehicles, are moving closer to becoming a reality.
The federal employers’ liability Act Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve secure affordable, reliable, and secure transportation in America is focusing on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This multi-billion dollar project will see tunnels, bridges, tracks and power systems updated, and stations rebuilt or replace. FRA's recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure law will significantly grow the agency's rail improvement programs.
The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a key part of this effort. The National Academies' recent review of the office found that it excelled at keeping in touch using inputs from a variety of stakeholders. It is still required to consider how its research contributes towards the department's main goal of ensuring the safety of people and goods by railways.
The agency could increase its efficiency by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR), the primary industry association for the freight rail industry, which focuses on research, policy and standard setting and has established an 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 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 would like to know the level of risk the industry is assessing with fully automated operation, and if the industry is considering additional measures to mitigate the risk.
Innovation
Rail companies are adopting new technologies to enhance worker safety, boost efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the cargo they transport reaches its destination intact. Examples of such innovation vary from the use cameras and sensors to keep track of freight, and to new railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo safe during transit. Some of these technologies even provide a way for railroads to send emergency responders to the scene of an accident so they can swiftly reduce risks to property and lives.
Positive Train Control (PTC) is among the most significant innovations in rail. It will stop train-to-train accidents, instances when trains are in a position they shouldn't be, and other accidents caused by human error. This system is made up of three components of onboard locomotive systems that track the train; wayside networks which communicate with the locomotive; and a huge server that collects and analyses data.
Railroads that transport passengers are also embracing technology to enhance safety and security. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with drones to assist security staff in locating passengers and items on board trains in case of an emergency. The company is also exploring other possibilities to utilize drones, for fela claims railroad employees instance, using them to perform inspections of bridges and other infrastructure, like replacing the lighting on railway towers that could be dangerous for workers to climb.
Other technologies that can be utilized for passenger railroads include smart track technology, which is able to detect the presence of people or objects on the tracks and send out a warning to drivers if it's unsafe to travel. These technologies are especially effective in detecting unsafe crossings or other issues in the evenings when traffic is less and there are less witnesses to an accident.
Telematics is another important technological advance in the railway industry. It allows shippers, railways and other stakeholders, to follow a traincar's progress in real-time. These capabilities give railcar owners and crews better accountability and visibility and can aid in improving efficiency, prevent unnecessary maintenance, and prevent delays in delivering freight to customers.