자유게시판

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

The Federal Railroad Administration and Technology

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

FRA field inspectors make use of discretion to decide on which cases are worthy of the precise and lengthy civil penalty process. This ensures that those violations most deserving of punishment are penalized.

SMART-TD and its allies created history by 2024 when they convinced the FRA that two people should be allowed to sit in the cabs of freight trains. The fight continues.

Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration implements a number of safety measures to safeguard the health of employees as well as the public. It formulates and enforces regulations for rail safety as well as manages funding for rail and researches rail improvement strategies and technologies. It also formulates and implements a plan to ensure the current infrastructure, services, and capacity and strategically expands and improves the nation's rail network. The department expects all railroad employers to adhere to strict rules and regulations, and empower their employees and provide them with the tools to succeed and stay safe. This includes participating in the confidential close call reporting system, establishing labor-management occupational health and safety committees with full participation from unions and anti-retaliation protections and providing employees with the necessary personal protective equipment.

FRA inspectors are at the forefront of enforcement of the rail safety laws and regulations. They conduct regular inspections of equipment and conduct a multitude of investigations of complaints of non-compliance. Those who violate the rail safety laws could be punished with civil penalties. Safety inspectors at the agency have a wide decision-making power to determine if violations fall within the legal definition of an offense that is punishable by civil penalties. The Office of Chief Counsel's safety division also reviews the reports that regional offices submit to ensure that they are legal before assessing penalties. The exercise of this discretion at both the field and regional levels helps ensure that the exacting, time-consuming civil penalty process is used only in situations which truly warrant the deterrent effect of a civil penalty.

To be considered guilty of a civil infringement, a rail employee must know the rules and regulations that govern their actions. They must also knowingly disregard these standards. However, the agency does not consider anyone 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 entire network over which goods and passengers travel within 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, even though it's physically connected.

Regulation

The federal railroad (https://Qooh.me) Administration sets train regulations, ranging from those related to safety and the movement of hazardous materials. The agency also oversees rail financing, including grants and loans for infrastructure and improvements to service. The agency works with other DOT agencies and with industry to develop strategies for improving the country's railroad system. This includes maintaining current rail infrastructure and services, addressing the need for new capacity strategically expanding the network, as well as coordinating regional and national systems planning and development.

Although the majority of the agency's work is focused on freight transportation, it also manages the transportation of passengers. The agency is trying to connect people to places they'd like to visit and offer more options for travel. The agency's focus is on improving the passenger's experience as well as enhancing the safety of its existing fleet and ensuring the rail network continues operating efficiently.

Railroads are required to comply with a number of federal regulations, including the ones pertaining to the size and composition of train crews. This issue has become controversial in recent years, with some states passing legislation to require two-person crews on trains. This final rule establishes federally the minimum size crew requirements, ensuring that all railroads adhere to the same safety standards.

This rule also requires that every railroad operating a one-person crew notify FRA and submit an analysis of risk. This will allow FRA to better understand the specifics of each operation and compare them to the normal two-person crew operation. In addition this rule alters the standard of review for an approval petition that is based on determining whether the operation is "consistent with railroad safety" to determining if approving the operation would be as secure or as safe as a two-crewmember operation.

During the time of public comment for this rule, a lot of people expressed their support for a requirement of two persons on the crew. A letter from 29 people expressed their concern 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 of railroad accidents and think that a bigger crew would help ensure the safety of both the train and the cargo it transports.

Technology

Freight and passenger rails use various technologies to increase efficiency, increase safety, and boost security. The rail industry vernacular includes a variety of distinct terms and acronyms however, some of the most notable developments include machine vision systems, instrumented rail inspection systems, driverless trains rolling data centers and unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly called drones).

Technology isn't only able to replace certain jobs. It empowers people to do their jobs better and safer. Passenger railroads are using smartphones apps and contactless fare payment cards to increase ridership and improve the efficiency of the system. Other innovations, like autonomous rail vehicles, are moving closer to becoming a reality.

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

The agency's Office of Research, Development and Technology is a central piece in this initiative. The most recent National Academies review of the office found that it excelled in engaging in a continuous dialogue and utilizing the inputs from a variety 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 railways.

The agency could enhance its efficiency by identifying and supporting 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 created a Technical Advisory Group for Autonomous Train Operations in order to help develop standards within the industry.

FRA is likely to be interested in the creation of an automated rail taxonomy, which is a standardization system that can clearly and consistently define the different levels of automation that could be applicable to both on-road and rail transit vehicles. The agency will also be looking to understand the level of safety risk that the industry sees when implementing a fully automated system and whether the industry is considering additional safeguards to mitigate that risk.

Innovation

Rail companies are adopting new technologies to enhance worker safety, improve efficiency in business processes, and ensure that the cargo they transport is delivered intact. Examples of this kind of innovations range from the use of sensors and cameras to monitor freight, to new railcar designs that keep dangerous cargo safe during transit. Certain of these technologies provide a way for railroads to send emergency response personnel to the scene of an accident so they can swiftly reduce damage and minimize risk to property and lives.

One of the most prominent innovations in rail is Positive Train Control (PTC) which will prevent collisions between trains and trains, situations in which trains are on tracks where they shouldn't be, as well as other accidents resulting from human error. This system consists of three components: 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 are also adopting technology to bolster security and safety. For instance, Amtrak is experimenting with the use of drones to assist security staff in locating passengers and other items aboard trains in the event in an emergency. The company is also exploring other possibilities to utilize drones, including deploying drones to conduct inspections of bridges and other infrastructure for example, replacing the lights on railway towers that could be dangerous for workers to climb.

Smart track technology is another technology that can be utilized in railways for passengers. It is able to detect objects or people on tracks and warn drivers if it is unsafe to continue. These technologies are particularly useful in detecting crossings that are not authorized or other issues during the evenings when the traffic is lower and there are fewer witnesses to an fela accident attorney.

Another important technological advancement in the railway industry is telematics which allows shippers, railroads and other stakeholders to see 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 to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary maintenance. It will also help avoid delays when delivering freight.