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

• 페이스북 공유
• 트위터 공유
• 

The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

The Federal Railroad Administration creates and enforces rail safety regulations It also provides rail funding and researches rail improvement strategies.

FRA field inspectors make use of discretion to determine which cases are worthy of the precise and time consuming civil penalty process. This allows them 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 keep two people in the cabs of locomotives of freight trains. The fight continues.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration implements a variety of safety measures to safeguard the health of employees and public. It formulates and enforces regulations for rail safety and oversees the funding for rail. It also researches strategies for improving rail and technologies. It also formulates, implements and maintains plans for the maintenance of the current infrastructure and services for rail. It also expands and improves strategically the rail network across the nation. The department requires all rail companies to adhere to the strictest rules and regulations, empower their workers and provide them with tools needed to be successful and secure. This includes taking part in the secure close call reporting system, setting up labor-management occupational health and safety committees that have full union participation, as well as anti-retaliation protections and providing employees with the necessary personal safety equipment.

FRA inspectors are on the front lines of enforcement of the rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct routine inspections on equipment and investigate complaints from hundreds of people. Anyone who violates rail safety laws may be punished with civil penalties. The agency's safety inspectors are able to decide on the extent to which an individual violation is in line with the statutory description of a crime that is punishable by civil penalties. In addition, the Office of Chief Counsel's safety department reviews all reports received by regional offices to determine legality before determining penalties. The exercise of this discretion at both the regional and field levels helps ensure that the time-consuming, costly civil penalty process is utilized only in cases which truly warrant the deterrent impact of a civil penalty.

To be considered guilty of a civil violation, a rail employee must know the rules and regulations governing their actions. They also must be aware that they disregard these standards. However the agency does not take any person who is acting under a direction from a supervisor to have 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 in the steel mill is not considered to be part of the general rail transportation system, despite the fact that it is physically connected.

Regulation

The federal employers’ Railroad Administration is responsible for establishing regulations for trains, such as those relating to safety and the movement of dangerous substances. The agency also manages financing for rail, including grants and loans for infrastructure and service improvements. The agency collaborates with other DOT agencies and the industry to devise strategies to improve the nation's railroad system. This work includes maintaining current rail infrastructure and services as well as making sure that there is enough capacity strategically expanding the network, and coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.

The agency is responsible for freight transport, but also manages passenger transportation. The agency is working to offer more options for passenger travel and Fela Lawsuits connect passengers with the places they would like to go. The agency is focused on enhancing the passenger experience and increasing the safety of the existing fleet, and making sure that the rail network continues to operate efficiently.

Railroads are required to comply with a range of federal regulations, which include the ones pertaining to the size and composition of crews on trains. In recent times the issue has become a source of controversy. Certain states have passed legislation that requires two-person teams on trains. This final rule defines federally the minimum size of crew requirements, making sure that all railroads follow the same safety standards.

This also requires every railroad that operates a single-person train crew to inform FRA of the operation and submit a risk assessment. This will enable FRA to compare the parameters of each operation to the standard two-person crew operation. In addition this rule will change the review standard for an approval petition that is based on determining whether the operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining whether approving the operation is secure or as safe as an operation with two crew members.

During the period of public comment on this rule, a large number of people voiced their support for a requirement for two persons on the crew. A form letter sent by 29 people expressed their concern that a single crew member would not be as quick to respond to issues with trains or grade crossing incidents, or assist emergency responders at a highway-rail grade crossing. Commenters emphasized that human factors are responsible 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 rails use different technologies to improve efficiency, increase security, and improve safety. The language used in the rail industry includes many specific terms and acronyms, but some of the most notable innovations include machine vision systems, instrumentsed rail inspection systems, driverless trains, rolling data centers and drones that are not piloted (commonly called drones).

Technology isn't just replacing certain jobs, it's also empowering people to perform their jobs more effectively and safely. Railroads for passengers use apps on smartphones and contactless fare cards to boost ridership and increase the efficiency of their system. Other innovations like autonomous rail cars are coming closer to reality.

The Federal Railroad Administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote safe reliable, affordable, and cost-effective transportation in the United States, is focused on modernizing the rail infrastructure. This multi-billion-dollar effort will see tunnels, bridges, tracks and power systems updated, and stations being rebuilt or replaced. 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 initiative. Recent National Academies review of the office found it excelled at engaging in a continuous dialogue and utilizing the inputs of a wide range of stakeholders. It is still required to focus on how its research contributes to the department's main goal of ensuring the safe movement of goods and people by railways.

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

The FRA is interested in the group's 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 also need to know the level of safety risk that the industry sees with the introduction of fully automated operation and whether or not the industry is contemplating additional protections to minimize the risk.

Innovation

Railroads are adopting technology to increase worker safety and make business processes more efficient, and ensure that the freight they move reaches its destination intact. These innovations range from sensors and cameras that monitor freight to new railcar designs that help keep dangerous cargo safe during transit. Some of these technologies allow railroads to dispatch emergency personnel directly to the scene of an accident to reduce the danger and minimize the damage to property and people.

One of the most prominent innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC) which will prevent collisions between trains and train, situations where trains are on tracks where they shouldn't be, as well as other accidents resulting from human errors. This system is made up of three parts: onboard locomotive systems which track the train; wayside networks which communicate with the locomotive; and a massive server that analyzes and collects data.

Trains for passengers also adopt technology to increase safety and security. Amtrak is one example. It is testing the use of drones to help train security staff locate passengers and other items in the event of an emergency. The company is also exploring ways to utilize drones. They could be used to examine bridges and other infrastructures or to replace the lighting on railway towers that are hazardous for workers to climb.

Other technologies that can be used for railways for passengers include smart track technology that can detect the presence of people or objects on the tracks and send out drivers with a warning if it's unsafe to proceed. These types of technology are especially valuable for detecting unauthorized crossings and other problems in the off-hours, when traffic levels are lower and fewer people are around to witness an accident.

Another important technological advancement in the rail industry is telematics, which allows railroads, shippers and other stakeholders to monitor the condition and status of a traincar by real-time tracking. Crews and railcar operators can benefit from increased accountability and visibility, which will help them to increase efficiency, avoid unnecessary maintenance and reduce delays when delivering freight.