• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces rail safety regulations The Federal Railroad Administration also provides funding for rail and conducts research on strategies to improve rail infrastructure.

FRA field inspectors use discretion to decide on which cases are worthy of the precise and time consuming civil penalty process. This allows them to ensure that the most serious violations are punished.

Members of SMART-TD and their allies have made history in 2024 by pushing the FRA to keep 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 protect the safety and health of employees as well as the general public. It is responsible for establishing and enforcing regulations for rail safety. It also oversees rail funding, and conducts research on rail improvement strategies and technology. It also develops the implementation and maintenance of a plan for maintaining the current rail infrastructure and services. It also works to expand and improve the national rail network. The department requires all railroad employers to adhere to strict rules and regulations, empower their workers and provide them with the tools to be successful and safe. This includes participating in the confidential close call reporting system, setting up occupational health and safety committees, with full union participation and anti-retaliation protections and providing employees with personal protective equipment.

Inspectors of the FRA are at the forefront of enforcing safety on rail laws and regulations. They conduct regular inspections of equipment and conduct a multitude of investigations into complaints of noncompliance. Anyone who violates the safety rules for rail can be penalized civilly. Safety inspectors from the agency have a broad discretion to determine whether a violation falls under the statutory definition of an offense that is punishable with civil penalties. In addition, the Office of Chief Counsel's safety department examines all reports submitted by regional offices to determine legality prior to assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at the regional and field levels helps ensure that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is used only in situations that are truly deserving of the effect of a civil penalty.

To be guilty of a civil offense an employee of a railroad must be aware of the rules and regulations that govern their actions. They must also be aware of and ignore these rules. However the agency does not consider any individual who acts under a directive from a supervisor to have committed an intentional violation. The agency defines the "general railroad system of transportation" as the whole network over which goods and passengers travel within metropolitan areas, or between them. The trackage of a plant railroad injury fela lawyer in a steel mill is not considered part of the general rail system of transportation, even though it is physically connected to it.

Regulation

The Federal Railroad Administration sets train regulations, ranging from those related to safety and the movement of hazardous materials. The agency is responsible for managing railway finance, including loans and grants for service and infrastructure improvement. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and industry to develop strategies to improve the rail system of the United States. This includes ensuring the current rail services and infrastructure and making sure that there is enough capacity, strategically expanding the network as well as coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.

Although the majority of the agency's work focuses on freight transportation, it also manages the transportation of passengers. The agency is working to offer more options for passenger travel and connect passengers with the places they want to go. The agency is focused on improving the passenger experience and enhancing the safety of the current fleet, and ensuring the rail network is operating efficiently.

Railroads are required to comply with a range of federal regulations, including those relating to the size and composition of train crews. In recent years this issue has become a source of controversy. Certain states have passed legislation requiring two-person teams on trains. This final rule establishes federally the minimum crew size requirements, making sure that all railroads follow the same safety standards.

This rule also requires that each railroad that has a one-person crew notify FRA and submit a risk analysis. This will allow FRA to better identify the specific parameters of each operation and compare them with those of a normal two-person crew operation. This rule also changes the standard for reviewing an application for special approval to determine if an operation is "consistent" with railroad safety, to determining if the operation is safer or less risky than a two-person crew operation.

During the time of public comment on this rule, a number of people voiced their support for a requirement of two persons on the crew. A letter written by 29 individuals emphasized their concerns that a single crew member might not be as quick to respond to train-related malfunctions or crossing incidents or assist emergency response personnel at a highway-rail grade crossing. The commenters pointed out that human factors are responsible for more than half railroad accidents, and they believe that a larger team could help ensure the safety of both the train and its cargo.

Technology

Freight and passenger railroads employ a wide array of technologies to enhance efficiency, improve security, increase safety and much more. The rail industry vernacular includes a variety of distinct terms and acronyms however, some of the most notable innovations include machines-vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains, rolling data centers, and drones that are not piloted (commonly called drones).

Technology isn't just about replacing certain jobs. It empowers people to perform their jobs more effectively and safer. Railroads that transport passengers are using smartphones and contactless fare payment cards in order to boost ridership and make the system more efficient. Other innovations such as autonomous rail cars are moving closer to becoming reality.

The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote safe affordable, reliable, and secure transportation in America is focusing on modernizing the railway infrastructure. This is a multi-billion dollar initiative that will see bridges and tunnels restored tracks, power systems and tracks upgraded and stations rebuilt or upgraded. FRA's recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure law will significantly increase the agency's rail improvement programs.

The Office of Research, Development and Technology of the agency is a key component in this initiative. The National Academies' recent review of the office concluded that it was successful in keeping in touch with and using inputs from a wide range of stakeholders. It is still required to consider how its research contributes towards the department's main goal of ensuring the safe movement of people and goods by rail.

The agency could improve its effectiveness by identifying and implementing automated train systems and technology. The Association of American Railroads (AAR), the primary industry association for the freight rail industry that is focused on research and policy, as well as standard setting and has established a Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations to assist in helping create standards within the industry.

The FRA is interested in the development of a taxonomy to describe automated rail vehicles, a system that defines clearly and consistently different levels of automation. This would apply to both rail transit and vehicles on the road. The agency will want to know the degree of risk the industry is assessing with fully automated operation, and whether the industry is considering additional measures to mitigate the risk.

Innovation

Rail companies are adopting new technologies to improve worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the cargo they transport is delivered intact. These innovations vary from cameras and sensors that monitor freight to innovative railcar designs which keep hazardous cargo safe during transportation. Certain of these technologies allow railroads dispatch emergency personnel directly to accident sites to minimize the risk and minimize damage to people and property.

Positive Train Control (PTC) is among the most significant innovations in rail. It can 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 error. The system is comprised of three components of onboard locomotive systems that track the train; wayside networks that communicate with the locomotive and a massive server that analyzes and collects data.

Trains for passengers also adopt technology to improve safety and security. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with drones to aid security personnel in locating passengers and other items onboard trains in the event of an emergency. Amtrak is also looking into ways to utilize drones. They could be used to examine bridges and other infrastructure, or to replace the lighting on railway towers that are dangerous for workers to climb.

Smart track technology is another technology that can be used in passenger railroads. It is able to detect people or objects on tracks and warn drivers that it is unsafe to continue. These kinds of technology are especially beneficial in detecting unsafe crossings and other issues 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 lets railways, shippers, and other stakeholders, to follow a traincar's progress in real-time. Railcar operators and crews can benefit from greater accountability and visibility which can help them increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary maintenance. It will also help reduce delays when delivering freight.