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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for rail safety regulations and enforcement, rail funding and research on improving rail strategies. FRA field inspectors employ discretion to decide on which cases warrant the exact and time-consuming civil penalty process. This discretion helps ensure that the violations most deserving of punishment are punished. Allies and members of SMART-TD have made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to keep two people in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight is not over. Safety The Federal Railroad Administration has a range of safety measures in place to safeguard the health and welfare of employees and the public. It develops and enforces safety regulations for rail and oversees the funding for rail. It also researches strategies for improving rail and technology. It also develops and implements a plan to ensure that current infrastructure, rail services and capacity and strategically expands and improves the national rail network. The department expects that all rail companies adhere to strict guidelines, empower their employees and provide them with tools to be secure and productive. This includes taking part in the confidential close-call reporting system, establishing occupational health and safety committees with full union participation and anti-retaliation protections and providing employees with needed personal safety equipment. FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of railway safety laws and regulations. They conduct regular inspections of equipment and conduct a myriad of investigations of complaints of noncompliance. Those who violate 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 statutory definition of a civil penalty-worthy act. The Office of Chief Counsel’s safety division also examines the reports submitted by regional offices to determine if they are legal prior to imposing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the field and regional levels ensures that the time-consuming, costly civil penalty process is used only in cases that truly warrant the deterrent impact of a civil penalty. To be guilty of a civil offense, a rail employee must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern the conduct of his or her employees. They must also be aware of and disregard these standards. However, the agency does not take any person who follows a directive from a supervisor to have committed an intentional violation. The agency defines “general railroad system” as the entire system that transports passengers and goods between cities and metropolitan areas. The trackage of a plant railroad within a steelmill is not considered to be part of the overall rail transportation system, even though it is physically connected. Regulation The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, including those related to safety and the movement of hazardous materials. The agency oversees railway finance, including grants and loan for infrastructure and service improvement. The agency works with other DOT agencies as well as industry to develop strategies for improving the rail system of the United States. This work includes maintaining current rail infrastructure and services as well as making sure that there is enough capacity, strategically expanding the network, as well as coordinating regional and national systems planning and development. The agency is responsible for freight transport, but also manages passenger transportation. The agency is aiming to provide more options for passenger travel and connect passengers with the places they would like to go. The agency is focused on improving the passenger experience, enhancing the safety of the current fleet, and ensuring the rail network is operating efficiently. Railroads must comply with a number of federal regulations, including the ones pertaining to the size and composition of the train crews. In recent years the issue has been a source of contention. Some states have passed legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule defines federally the minimum size of crew requirements, making sure that all railroads follow the same safety standards. This rule also requires that every railroad operating with a crew of one notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will enable FRA to evaluate the characteristics of each operation with those of a two-person standard crew operation. Additionally, this rule changes the criteria for reviewing an approval petition that is based on determining whether the operation is “consistent with railroad safety” to determining if approving the operation is safe or safer than a two-crewmember operation. During the period of public comments for this rule, a large number of people voted for a requirement of two people on the crew. In a letter to the editor 29 people voiced their concern that a single crewmember is not in a position to respond as quickly to train malfunctions or incidents at grade crossings, or assist emergency response personnel on the highway-rail level crossing. Commenters emphasized that human factors are the reason for more than half all railroad accidents. They believe that a larger team would ensure the security of the train and its cargo. Technology Freight and passenger railroads employ numerous technologies to enhance efficiency, add security, improve safety and much more. The language used in the rail industry contains a myriad of distinct terms and acronyms however, some of the most notable developments include machine vision systems, instrumentsed rail inspection systems, driverless trains, rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly known as drones). Technology isn't just replacing certain jobs, it's also empowering individuals to perform their work better and safer. Passenger railroads are using smartphones and contactless fare payment cards in order to boost ridership and make the system more efficient. Other innovations like autonomous rail cars are moving closer to becoming reality. The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote secure reliable, affordable, and cost-effective transportation in America, is focused on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This is a multi-billion-dollar project that will see tunnels and bridges repaired tracks, power systems and tracks upgraded, and stations reconstructed or upgraded. The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will substantially increase the agency's rail improvement programs. The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a crucial part of this effort. The National Academies' recent review of the office concluded that it excelled at keeping in touch with and using inputs from a broad range of stakeholders. But it still needs to concentrate on how its research contributes to the department's primary strategic goal of ensuring the safe transportation of goods and people by railway. The agency could enhance its effectiveness by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technology. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the main industry association for the freight rail industry, which is focused on research, policy and standard setting created an Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to help establish standards for the industry. The FRA is interested in the development of a taxonomy for automated rail vehicles, a system that defines clearly and consistently the different levels of automation. This would apply to rail transit as well as on-road vehicles. The agency will also need to know the level of safety risk that the industry sees when implementing a fully automated system and whether the industry is considering additional safeguards to mitigate that risk. Innovation Railroads are adopting technology to improve worker safety and make business processes more efficient, and ensure that the freight they move reaches its destination intact. Examples of this kind of technological advancement range from the use of sensors and cameras to keep track of freight, and to new railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo safe during transit. Certain of these technologies enable railroads to dispatch emergency responders directly to sites of accidents to minimize the risk and damage to people and property. Positive Train Control (PTC) is one of the most important innovations 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 errors. This 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. Trains for passengers are also adopting technology to bolster security and safety. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with the use of drones to assist passenger security staff in locating passengers and other items onboard trains in case in the event of an emergency. The company is also looking into other possibilities to utilize drones, such as using them to perform inspections of bridges and other infrastructure, like replacing the lighting on railway towers that could be hazardous for workers to climb. Smart track technology is a different technology that is used in passenger railroads. fela lawyer can detect people or objects on tracks and warn drivers if it is unsafe to continue. These types of technologies can be particularly valuable for detecting unauthorized crossings as well as other issues that can arise in the off-hours, when traffic levels are lower and fewer people are around to witness an accident. Telematics is a significant technological advance in the rail industry. It allows shippers, railways and other stakeholders, to monitor a traincar in real-time. Railcar operators and crews can benefit from greater accountability and visibility, which will help them to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary maintenance. It will also help delay in the delivery of freight.