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The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recognizes the importance and function of a strong safety culture to railroad safety. Since 2014, FRA’s Office of Research, Development and Technology (RD&T) has supported the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) in its...
Overview: This program provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. Applications must be submitted no later than June 25, 2026 by 11:59 PM ET. See the FY 2025-2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity for more...
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, in support of the Federal Railroad Administration is conducting a research program with the goal of reducing the number of accidents and resulting casualties at...
An assessment of the requirements for illumination at a railroad grade crossing reveals two principal needs: the need to illuminate the sides of railroad cars by in-place lighting at the crossing so that they can be recognized by a motorist at a stoppable distance, and the need to provide...
Eight grade crossing island detection technologies designed to eliminate problems associated with loss of shunt were evaluated by engineers at Transportation Technology Center, Inc., a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads, Pueblo, Colorado. Performance of these alternative...
The current study represents one of several efforts by the Federal Railroad Administration to evaluate the effectiveness of auditory warnings designed to promote awareness of approaching trains. A stationary horn (or wayside horn) located at the grade crossing was evaluated to learn whether it...
The purpose of this study was to develop guidelines and recommendations for the design of retroreflective marking systems to enhance the conspicuity of rail cars at night. Three methods were used to generate and evaluate the marking systems for a standard hopper car. First, a group of human...
Collisions at highway-railroad grade crossings have posed a significant safety problem. To reduce the number of these collisions at highway-railroad grade crossings where train visibility is a contributing factor, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is investigating measures to enhance the...