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The Federal Railroad Administration The Federal Railroad Administration is one of the DOT's 10 departments involved in intermodal transportation. Its purpose is to ensure safe and reliable transportation of both people and goods. FRA field inspectors examine the railroad track, train control and signal systems as well operating practices. They also investigate complaints. Definition A federal railroad is a type of rail transport in the United States that is controlled by the federal government. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, creates and enforces railway regulations as well as manages funds from railroads and conducts research to improve railway transportation. The FRA is one of the 10 agencies of the U.S. Department of Transportation that are concerned with intermodal transportation. Its chief executive officers are the Administrator and Deputy Administrator. The agency is responsible for all passenger and freight transport that utilizes the railway system of the United States. The agency also coordinates the funding provided by the federal government for rail transportation and assists in the rehabilitation of Northeast Corridor passenger service. In addition, the agency oversees the operation and ownership of all intermodal facilities, such as tracks, right-of-way, equipment and real property as well as rolling stock. It also handles the overall coordination of federal rail transportation programs. The FRA's responsibilities also include the establishment through regulation, and after an opportunity for comment an procedure that anyone can notify the Secretary Homeland Security any railroad security problems or issues. The agency also formulates guidelines, conducts inspections and assesses compliance with its railroad laws in six technical disciplines, including track signals, track and train control; motive power and equipment; operating practices as well as hazmat and highway-rail grade intersections. The agency has the responsibility of making sure the railway transportation system is safe, efficient and environmentally sustainable. The agency also demands that railroads to provide a safe working environment and provide adequate training for their employees. In addition, the agency sets and enforces railroad rates to ensure that the public receives an equitable price for their transportation services. The Federal Railroad Administration also enacts and enforces rules to prevent discrimination towards railroad employees. It also protects whistleblowers against retaliation from railroad companies. The agency also sets up a procedure for railroad employees to make complaints about the conduct of the company. The main goal of the agency is to enable the safe reliable and efficient movement of goods and people to build a stronger America today and into the future. The FRA achieves this by controlling rail safety, coordinating programs for assistance to railroads, conducting research to support improved railroad safety and national transportation policy, coordinating rail networking development and helping the private industry manage railroads. In fela lawsuit settlements , railroads dominated the market, with very little competition. The railroad industry took advantage of its dominance in the market as a result. Congress created the Interstate Commerce Commission, as well as other regulatory agencies, to curb railroad monopolies' abuses. Purpose Federal railroads are government agencies that establish regulations, manage rail funds and conduct research to improve rail transport in the United America. It is responsible for the rail infrastructure of the United States and manages freight and passenger railroads. It is one of ten agencies of the U.S. Department of Transportation. It is also responsible for maintaining and expanding the current railway infrastructure. The main responsibility of the federal government in the rail transportation industry is safety. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is in charge of this, and has several divisions responsible for overseeing the country's passenger and freight railroad operations. The Office of Railroad Safety is the largest of these with a staff of around 350. It is responsible for conducting safety inspections across six technical disciplines, including track, signalling, and train control as well as motive and equipment, operating procedures, hazmat, and highway-rail grade crossings. FRA has several departments, including the Office of Railroad Policy and Development. This department oversees programs that aim to improve passenger and freight rail transportation, like the Northeast Corridor Future. This department also is in charge of the grants that are given to help railways, and it collaborates with other agencies to develop plans for the nation's rail needs. Another essential duty of the FRA is the enforcement of certain federal laws pertaining to railroads and their employees. This includes stopping railroads from using their power to discriminate against employees and making sure that all injured railway staff are taken to the nearest hospital to receive treatment. Additionally, railroads are prohibited from denying or delaying medical treatment to injured railway workers. The FRA is the primary regulator of the freight and passenger rail industries, but there are other organizations which manage the economic aspects of rail transport. The Surface Transportation Board, for instance, is in charge of setting rates and governing the economics of the sector. It has regulatory authority over railroad mergers and line sales construction and abandonment. After an open consultation period the agency is responsible for establishing rules that permit anyone to file a complaint about any alleged safety issues with rail. Functions Rails transport goods and people from and to cities in developed countries as well as villages in countries that are less developed. They transport raw materials to manufacturing and processing plants, and finished products from these facilities to stores and warehouses. Railroads are a vital mode of transportation for a variety of essential commodities, including coal, oil, and grains. In 2020, freight railroads moved more than a quarter of all freight in the United States [PDFThe PDF file contains more information about. The federal railroad is managed like any other business. It has departments for marketing, sale, operations, and an executive department. The department for marketing and sales works with potential and current customers to determine what kind of rail services they require and what those services should cost. The operations department then develops the rail services that meet these requirements at the cheapest cost to earn money for the railroad. The executive department is responsible for the entire operation, ensuring that every department is running smoothly. The government supports the railways through a variety of methods, including grants and subsidized rates on government traffic. Congress also provides funds to help construct new tracks and stations. These subsidies are often a part of the money that railroads earn through tickets and freight contracts. In the United States, the government owns the railway for passengers, Amtrak. It is a quasi public for-profit corporation, with the United States Government as a major stockholder. A major purpose of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is establishing and enforcing safety regulations for railroads. This includes regulating the mechanical condition of trains as well as the health and safety of railroad employees. FRA also analyzes and collects data on rail safety to identify trends and areas that may require more or better regulatory attention. In addition to these primary tasks, FRA works on various other projects that aim to improve the economy and security of railroad transportation in the United States. The agency, for example seeks to lower the obstacles that can hinder railroads in the implementation of positive train control (PTC). PTC is a safety technology that utilizes sensors and computers on board to stop a train in the event that it is too close to an object or vehicle. History The nation's first railroads were built in the 1820s and 1830s, mostly in New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. The railroads greatly accelerated industrialization in these regions, and also brought more food products to the market. This development allowed the country to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports from abroad, which in turn helped to foster a strong economic base. In the latter part of the 19th century the railroad industry enjoyed the benefits of a “Golden Age” that saw new, more efficient raillines were built and passenger travel became popular. This was in large part due to the government's efforts to expand the railroad system. The government, for instance granted homesteaders land grants to encourage them to settle in the West. Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads also worked together to construct the first transcontinental railway, which allowed travelers to travel from New York City to San Francisco within six days. In the first half century, however, the demand for passenger rail services dwindled, while other modes of transport like planes and cars became more popular. In the meantime, the stifling of regulation made it difficult for railroads to compete. The industry was plagued by a series of bankruptcy, service cuts, and deferred maintenance. The misguided federal rail regulations contributed to the decline. Around the year 1970, the federal government began loosening the regulations governing railroads. Surface Transportation Board was created to oversee economic matters such as railroad rates and mergers. The Federal Railroad Administration, which regulates freight and passenger transport and sets rail safety standards was also established. Since then, the railway infrastructure of the United States has seen a significant amount of investment. The Northeast Corridor has been rebuilt for instance, in order to allow for faster and more modern high-speed ground transportation (HSGT). There have also been efforts to improve the efficiency of freight rail systems. In the future, FRA hopes to continue its relationship with all transportation agencies to ensure safe and reliable railroads. The agency's role is to ensure that the nation's transport system is running as efficiently as possible.