• 목록
• 답변
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces rail safety regulations It also provides rail funding and studies strategies for improving rail safety.

FRA field inspectors employ discretion to decide on which cases warrant the exact and time-consuming civil penalty process. This helps ensure that the most serious violations are penalized.

Allies and members of SMART-TD have made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to allow two people in the locomotive cab of freight trains. The fight is not over.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration has a range of safety measures in place to ensure the safety and health of its employees and the general public. It formulates and enforces regulations for rail safety and oversees the funding for rail. It also researches rail improvement strategies and technology. It also formulates and implements a plan to ensure the current infrastructure, rail services and capacity and strategically expands and improves the national rail network. The department requires that all rail companies adhere to strict regulations, empower their employees and provide them with tools to be secure and productive. This includes taking part in the secure close call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational health and safety committees that have full participation from unions and anti-retaliation safeguards, and providing employees with the necessary personal safety equipment.

Inspectors of the FRA are at the forefront of enforcing safety on rail regulations and laws. They conduct routine inspections on equipment and investigate hundreds of complaints. Civil penalties are handed out to those who violate rail safety laws. Safety inspectors at the agency have a wide decision-making power to determine if violations fall within the definition provided by law of an act that is punishable with civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also reviews 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 helps ensure that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is utilized only in situations that truly warrant the deterrent effect of a civil fine.

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 also must be aware that they not adhere to these rules. However the agency does not take any person who is acting under a direction from a supervisor as having committed an intentional violation. 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 steel mill is not considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, even though it is physically connected.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing train regulations, such as those relating to safety and the movement of hazardous substances. The agency manages railway finance, including grants and loan for infrastructure and service improvement. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies as well as industry to develop strategies for improving the rail system of the United States. This includes maintaining current rail infrastructure and services, in addition to addressing the need for additional capacity and strategically expanding the network and coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.

While the majority of the agency's activities are focused on freight transportation, it also handles the transportation of passengers. The agency is working to offer more options for passenger travel and connect people to the places they'd like to travel to. The agency is focused on improving the passenger experience, enhancing the safety of the existing fleet, and making sure that the railway system continues to function efficiently.

Railroads are required to abide with a number of federal regulations, which include those that deal with the size and composition of crews on trains. This issue has become an issue of contention in recent years, with several states enacting legislation that requires two-person crews on trains. This final rule outlines the minimum size of crew requirements at an international level, and ensures that all railroads are held to the same safety standards.

This also requires every railroad operating a single-person train crew to inform FRA of the operation and submit an assessment of risk. This will allow FRA to compare the parameters of each operation with those of a two-person standard crew operation. This rule also alters the review standard of an application for special approval to determine if an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety standards to determining whether the operation is as secure or safer than two-person crew operation.

During the period of public comment for this rule, a large number of people expressed their support for a requirement of a two person crew. A letter written by 29 people outlined their concerns that a single crew member would not be as quick to respond to train-related malfunctions or crossing incidents, or assist emergency response personnel at a highway rail grade crossing. Commenters pointed out that human factors are responsible for a majority of railroad accidents. They believe that a larger team could ensure the security of the train and its cargo.

Technology

Railroads that transport passengers and freight employ numerous technologies to increase efficiency, add safety, boost security and much more. The rail industry lingo includes a variety of specific terms and acronyms, but some of the most notable developments include machine vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains rolling data centers, and unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly known as drones).

Technology isn't just about replacing certain jobs. It allows people to do their jobs better and more safely. Passenger railroads use smartphones apps and contactless fare cards in order to increase ridership and increase the efficiency of their system. Other developments like autonomous rail cars are getting 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 is a multi-billion dollars initiative that will see tunnels and bridges restored as well as tracks and power systems upgraded and stations rebuilt or replaced. The FRA's rail improvement program will be greatly extended by the recently passed bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a central piece in this effort. The most recent National Academies review of the office found that it excelled in engaging in a continuous dialogue and utilizing the inputs of a wide range of stakeholders. It is still required to consider how its research contributes to the department's main goal of ensuring safe movement of people and goods by rail.

One area in which the agency could be able improve its effectiveness is in identifying and supporting the development of automated train systems and technologies. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the main industry association for the freight rail industry, which is focused on research and policy, as well as standard setting, established a Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations in order to help develop standards within the industry.

FRA is interested in the group's development of an automated rail taxonomy, a standardization system that can clearly and consistently define different levels of automation that could be applicable to both rail and on-road transit vehicles. The agency would like to know the degree of risk the industry sees in fully automated operation, and whether the industry is considering additional measures to mitigate the risk.

Innovation

Railroads are embracing technology to boost worker safety, make business processes more efficient and ensure that the cargo they move reaches its destination in good condition. These innovations include cameras and sensors that monitor freight to innovative railcar designs that keep hazardous cargo safe during transit. Some of these technologies enable railroads to dispatch emergency responders directly to sites of accidents to minimize risk and minimize damage to people and property.

One of the most well-known innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC), which will inhibit train-to-train collisions, situations where trains are on tracks where they shouldn't be, and other accidents resulting from human error. This system consists of three components: onboard locomotive systems which track the train; wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a massive server that gathers and fela law firm analyzes data.

Trains for passengers are also adopting technology to bolster security and safety. Amtrak is one example. It is testing the use of drones to assist train security staff locate passengers and other items in an emergency. The company is also exploring ways to use 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 another technology that is used in railways for passengers. It is able to detect objects or people on tracks and warn drivers that it is unsafe to continue. These technologies are especially effective in detecting unsafe crossings or other issues in the evenings, when traffic is low and there are fewer witnesses to an accident.

Telematics is yet another significant technological advancement in the rail industry. It lets railways, shippers, and other stakeholders to follow a traincar's progress in real-time. These capabilities give railcar owners and crews better accountability and transparency and assist them in improving efficiency, prevent unnecessary maintenance and avoid delays in the delivery of freight to customers.