RAIL-MOUNTED OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS FOR MONITORING TRACK TRANSITIONS

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sponsored a research team from Oklahoma State University (OSU) to assess how well Optical Fiber Sensors (OFS), specifically Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors, can monitor railroad track transitions. The initial laboratory work focused on comparing the...

EXPERTISE MANAGEMENT: A PROMISING APPROACH FOR SUCCESSION PLANNING

The railroad industry is facing a significant loss of expertise that succession planning programs alone cannot adequately mitigate, largely due to shifting demographics and an aging employee population. In 2022, FRA’s Office of Research, Development, and Technology’s Human Factors Division...

Full Moving Block (FMB) Concept and Requirements Specification for Railroad Operations

The Federal Railroad Administration sponsored Transportation Technology Center, Inc., (MxV Rail), in collaboration with a rail industry stakeholder technical advisory group (TAG), to refine concepts and develop interoperable requirements for the Full Moving Block (FMB) method of train control....

Safety Advisory 2023-07; Review and Implement New Predictive Weather Modeling and Proactive Safety Processes across the National Rail Network to Prevent Weather-Related Accidents and Incidents

President Biden Advances Vision for World Class Passenger Rail with $16 Billion Investment in America’s Busiest Corridor

Rail Share Agenda

FOIA Log FY 2023

Automated Train Operations (ATO) Safety and Sensor Development

The goal of the Automated Train Operations (ATO) Safety and Sensor Development Project was to define system requirements for a locomotive-borne sensor platform (SP) to support the ATO concept. Transportation Technology Center, Inc. conducted market research to gain an understanding of available...

Implementing SLSI-provided Opportunities Continues to Support Safety Culture Growth

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) measures short line and regional railroads’ safety culture using a multi-method assessment process that examines safety culture performance across the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Safety Council’s 10 Core Elements of a Strong Safety Culture (...

FRA Publishes Final Rule Requiring the Installation of Locomotive Image Recording Devices on Passenger Trains

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced a final rule requiring the installation of inward- and outward-facing image recording devices on all passenger train lead locomotives providing scheduled intercity rail passenger or commuter service. The Fixing America’s...