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The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces rail safety regulations, provides rail funding and researches rail improvement strategies. FRA field inspectors employ discretion to decide which cases are worthy of the precise and lengthy civil penalty process. This discretion helps ensure that those violations most deserving of punishment are punished. SMART-TD and its allies made history in 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two people should be allowed in the cabs of freight trains. The fight is not over. Safety The Federal Railroad Administration has a variety of safety measures in place to ensure the health and safety of its employees and the general public. It creates and enforces regulations for rail safety and oversees the funding for rail. It also studies strategies for improving rail infrastructure and new technologies. It also formulates, implements and maintains plans for the maintenance of the current rail infrastructure and services. It also expands and improves strategically the rail network across the nation. The department expects that all rail operators adhere to strict guidelines that empower their employees and provide them with tools to ensure their safety and success. This includes participating in the secure close call reporting system, setting up occupational health and safety committees, with full union participation and anti-retaliation protections and providing employees with the necessary personal protection equipment. FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of railway safety regulations and laws. They conduct routine inspections of equipment and investigate complaints from hundreds of people. Anyone who violates the rail safety laws could be subject to civil penalties. Safety inspectors from the agency have wide discretion to determine whether an act is within the definition provided by law of an act punishable with civil penalties. In addition the Office of Chief Counsel's safety division reviews all reports that are received from regional offices to determine their legal sufficiency before assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at both the regional and field levels helps ensure that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is applied only in those situations that truly warrant the deterrent impact of a civil penalty. A rail worker must be aware of rules and regulations that govern his or her actions, and not knowingly violate those rules to be guilty of a civil penalty-worthy offence. The agency doesn't consider that a person who acts on a supervisor's directive has committed a willful offence. The agency defines “general railroad system” as the entire network that transports passengers and goods between metropolitan areas and cities. The trackage of a plant railroad in the steelmill isn't 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 regulations for trains, such as those relating to safety and the transportation of hazardous substances. The agency is responsible for managing rail finance, including loans and grants for service and infrastructure improvement. The agency works with other DOT agencies and with industry to devise strategies to improve the country's railroad system. This includes ensuring the existing rail infrastructure and services, addressing the need for new capacity strategically expanding the network and coordinating regional and national systems planning and development. The agency is primarily responsible for freight transport, but also manages passenger transportation. The agency is aiming to provide more options for passenger travel and connect people with the places they would like to go. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience and enhancing the safety of the current fleet, and ensuring that the railway system continues to function efficiently. Railroads are required to comply with a variety of federal regulations, which include the ones pertaining to the size and composition of the train crews. This issue has become a controversial one in recent years, with a few states passing legislation to require two-person crews on trains. This final rule defines federally the minimum size crew requirements, ensuring that all railroads adhere to the same safety standards. This rule also requires each railroad that operates a one-person train crew to notify FRA of the operation and submit an assessment of risk. This will allow FRA to evaluate the characteristics of each operation with those of a two-person standard crew operation. This rule also alters the criteria for reviewing a special approval request to determine if an operation is “consistent” with railroad safety to determining if the operation is safer or more secure than a two-person crew operation. During the public comment period for this rule, a large number of people backed the requirement of a two-person crew. fela lawyer written by 29 individuals emphasized their concerns that a single crew member would 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 pointed out that human factors are the reason for more than half of all railroad accidents. They believe that a bigger crew would ensure the safety of the train and its cargo. Technology Freight and passenger rails employ different technologies to improve efficiency, enhance security, and improve safety. The language used in the rail industry contains a myriad of unique terms and acronyms, but some of the most notable innovations include machine vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains rolling data centers, and drones that are not piloted (commonly called drones). Technology isn't just replacing some jobs, it's also empowering people to do their job more effectively and safely. 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 like autonomous rail cars are getting closer to becoming reality. As part of its ongoing efforts 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 tunnels, bridges, tracks and power systems upgraded and stations renovated or replaced. FRA's recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law will dramatically grow the agency's rail improvement programs. The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a key component in this effort. The most recent National Academies review of the office revealed that it was successful in engaging, maintaining communication and using inputs of a wide range of stakeholders. It still needs to be aware of how its research contributes towards the department's main goal of ensuring the safe movement of people and goods by rail. The agency could enhance its effectiveness by identifying and supporting 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 and policy, as well as standard setting created a Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to assist in helping develop standards within the industry. 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 vehicles on the road. The agency will want to know the degree of risk the industry is assessing with fully automated operation, and if the industry is considering any additional safeguards to minimize the risk. Innovation Rail companies are adopting technology to enhance worker safety, boost efficiency in business processes and ensure that the freight they transport arrives at its destination in good condition. Examples of this technological advancement vary from the use sensors and cameras to keep track of freight, and to new railcar designs that help keep hazardous cargo secure during transit. Some of these technologies allow railroads to dispatch emergency personnel to locations of accidents so they can swiftly reduce damage and minimize risk to property and lives. One of the most well-known 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 that result from human error. The system is a three-part system consisting of locomotives onboard that track the train, wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive, and a massive backend server that analyzes and collects data. Passenger railroads are also embracing technology to improve security and safety. Amtrak, for example, is testing the use of drones to help security personnel on trains locate passengers and other items in the event of an emergency. The company is also looking into different ways to use drones, for instance, using drones to inspect bridges as well as other infrastructure, for example, replacing the lights on railway towers, which could be dangerous for workers to climb. Smart track technology is another technology that can be used in railways for passengers. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and notify drivers if it is unsafe to continue. These kinds of technology are especially useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized as well as other issues that can arise during times when traffic levels are lower and there are fewer people to witness an accident. Telematics is a significant technological advancement in the rail industry. It allows shippers, railways and other parties to follow a traincar's progress in real-time. Crews and railcar operators can benefit from increased accountability and visibility which can help them to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary maintenance. It will also help reduce delays when delivering freight.