Federal Railroad Administration

Whether the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will suffer from a June 30 Supreme Court (SCOTUS) trimming of regulatory agency authority to interpret their own governing…

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief train 4 traveling eastbound from Los Angeles to Chicago on June 27 derailed after striking a dump truck that was obstructing a public grade crossing in Missouri.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on June 30 released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the new Railroad Crossing Elimination Program. More than $573 million in grant funds…

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) honored on June 29 364 member railroads with the Jake Safety Award for above-industry-average safety performance during 2021. Of the recipients,…

The multi-billion-dollar Washington Union Station Expansion Project, intended to modernize and revitalize one of the most iconic and beautiful train stations in North America, took a step further on June…

“Examining Freight Rail Safety” was the theme of a June 14 hearing of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. The aim: for…

Editor’s Note: On June 14, 2022, the day that the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials is conducting a hearing, “Examining Freight Rail Safety,” the…

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is seeking feedback on how to improve the effectiveness of its blocked highway-rail grade crossing portal.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is distributing more than $2 million in Railroad Trespassing Enforcement Grants and Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grants to 25 law enforcement projects in 13 states.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on June 13 published in the Federal Register a final rule on “Fatigue Risk Management Programs for Certain Passenger and Freight Railroads.” The Commuter Rail…

I present this white paper (downloadable below) from the viewpoint of an observer and generalist, albeit one with more than 46 years of involvement in rail safety and policy issues,…

More than $368 million in FY 2021 CRISI (Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements) program grants will be distributed among 46 freight and passenger projects in 32 states and the…

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released its annual enforcement report summarizing the regulatory compliance inspections and audits conducted in the past fiscal year by FRA or state inspectors participating…

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released a report measuring the performance and service quality of Amtrak intercity passenger train operations for first-quarter 2022 (ending Dec. 31, 2021). Among the…

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has established the Corridor Identification and Development (ID) Program that “will serve as a key vehicle for directing federal investments and technical assistance toward new…

Safety culture improves when railroads participate in Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI)-sponsored safety culture assessments and follow through on recommendations, according to a new report from the Federal Railroad Administration…

Less than a month after being appointed FRA Deputy Administrator, Jennifer Mitchell discussed agency priorities and how small roads can best position themselves for CRISI program grants, among other issues,…

BNSF is conducting a pilot safety program approved by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to evaluate the effectiveness of thermal detector technology for monitoring brake health.

A Florida judge on April 18 struck down a federal mandate requiring mask use on public transportation and at transportation hubs. While railroads were deciding whether to keep the mandate…

Amtrak will face four main challenges as it modernizes and expands service with a minimum of $22 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding, according to the Amtrak…