Buzzwords De-Buzzed: 10 Different Methods To Deliver Federal Railroad

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 improving rail strategies.

FRA inspectors on the ground employ discretion to decide which cases merit the lengthy and precise civil penalty procedure. This discretion helps to ensure that the most serious violations are penalized.

SMART-TD members and allies made history in 2024 when they began pushing the FRA to ensure that two people are in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight continues.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration has a range of safety measures in place to protect the health and safety of employees as well as the general public.  fela settlements  is responsible for developing and enforcing rail safety regulations. It also oversees rail funding and conducts research on improvements to rail strategies and technologies. It also formulates and implements a strategy to ensure the current infrastructure, rail services and capacity and strategically expands and enhances the national rail network. The department demands that all rail companies adhere to strict rules and empower their employees, and provide them with the tools to ensure their safety and success. This includes taking part in the confidential close call reporting system, establishing occupational health and safety committees with full participation from unions and protection against retaliation and providing employees with the necessary personal safety equipment.

FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of the rail safety laws and regulations. They perform routine inspections on equipment and investigate complaints from hundreds of people. Civil penalties are applied to those who break railroad safety laws. Safety inspectors from the agency have wide discretion to determine if an act is within the statutory definition of an act that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also reviews all reports that regional offices submit to ensure they are legal before assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the regional and field levels helps ensure that the time-consuming, costly civil penalty process is utilized only in situations which truly warrant the deterrent impact of a civil penalty.

To be convicted of a civil violation an employee of a railroad must know the rules and regulations that govern their actions. They must also knowingly ignore these rules. However the agency doesn't consider anyone who follows 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 cities and metropolitan areas or between them. The trackage of a plant railroad within the steelmill isn't considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, despite the fact that it is physically connected.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing train regulations that pertain to safety and the movement of hazardous substances. The agency oversees railway finance, including loans and grants to improve service and infrastructure. The agency works with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies for improving the rail system of the United States. This includes maintaining the current rail infrastructure and services, responding to the demands for additional capacity and expanding the network strategically and coordinating the regional and national system's planning and development.

Although the majority of the agency's work is focused on freight transportation, it also oversees the transportation of passengers. The agency aims to connect people with the places they want and provide more choices for travel. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience as well as enhancing the safety of the current fleet, and ensuring that the rail network is operating efficiently.

Railroads must adhere to a number of federal regulations, including those pertaining to the size of crews on trains. In recent years, this issue has become controversial. Some states have passed legislation requiring 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 each railroad that has one-person train crews to inform FRA of the operation and submit an assessment of risk. This will allow FRA to better identify the specifics of each operation and compare them to the parameters of a typical two-person crew operation. This rule also alters the standard for reviewing a special approval request from determining if an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety, to determining if the operation is as secure or more secure than a two-person crew operation.

During the period of public comments for this rule, a number of people voiced their support for a requirement of two people on the crew. A form letter sent by 29 people outlined their concerns that a single crew member might not be as quick to respond to issues with trains or grade crossing incidents, or assist emergency response personnel at a highway-rail grade crossing. Commenters emphasized that human factors are the reason for a majority of railroad accidents. They believe that a larger team would ensure the safety of the train and its cargo.

Technology

Railroads that transport passengers and freight employ numerous technologies to improve efficiency, add safety, boost security and much more. Rail industry jargon includes a variety of unique terms and acronyms. Some of the most well-known include machine vision systems (also called drones) and rail-inspection systems that are instrumented, driverless train, rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicle (also known as drones).

Technology doesn't just replace some jobs. It helps people perform their jobs more effectively and safer. Railroads that transport passengers are using smartphone apps and contactless fare payment cards to increase ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other innovations such as autonomous rail cars are getting closer to reality.

As part of its ongoing effort to advance safe, reliable, and affordable transportation options for the country The Federal Railroad Administration is focused on modernizing its rail infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollars initiative that will see tunnels and bridges repaired tracks, power systems and tracks upgraded, and stations reconstructed or upgraded. FRA's recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure law will substantially 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 with and using inputs from a wide range of stakeholders. It still needs to be aware of how its research contributes to the department's main goal of ensuring the safety of goods and people by rail.

One area in which the agency might be able to increase its effectiveness is by identifying and assisting the advancement of automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the principal industry association for the freight rail industry that is focused on research policy, standard-setting and policy and has established a Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to help create standards within the industry.

FRA is likely to be interested in the group's creation of an automated rail taxonomy, which is a system of standards to clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that could be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will also need to know the level of risk to safety that the industry sees with implementing fully automated operation and whether the industry is contemplating additional safeguards to mitigate that risk.

Innovation

Railroads are adopting technology to improve worker safety and improve business processes. efficient and ensure that the cargo it transports arrives at its destination in good condition. Examples of this kind of innovations vary from the use sensors and cameras to track freight, to the latest railcar designs that help keep hazardous cargo safe during transport. Certain of these technologies allow railroads to send emergency responders directly to accident sites to minimize 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 trains, situations in which trains are on tracks that shouldn't be and other accidents that are 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 gathers and analyzes data.

Trains for passengers also adopt technology to enhance security and safety. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with the use of drones to assist passenger security staff in locating passengers and other items aboard trains in the event of 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 lights on railway towers that are dangerous for workers to climb.

Smart track technology is another technology that can be used in railways for passengers. It is able to detect objects or people on tracks and notify motorists that it is not safe to continue. These technologies are particularly useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized or other issues during the evenings, when traffic is low and there are less witnesses to an accident.

Another important technological breakthrough in the rail industry is telematics which allows railroads, shippers and other stakeholders to view a traincar's status and condition via real-time tracking. Traincar crews and operators can benefit from greater accountability and visibility which will allow them improve efficiency as well as avoid unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays when delivering freight.