Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) responsible for the safety regulation of freight and passenger railroad operations in the United States. Created in 1966, the FRA writes and enforces the federal railroad safety rules and oversees the industry's compliance with them.

The FRA's regulations, codified primarily in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, cover areas such as track standards, freight car and locomotive equipment, brake systems, operating practices, signal and train control systems, hazardous materials in rail transport, and the hours of service of train crews. The agency employs safety inspectors who audit railroads and equipment in the field, investigates accidents, and can issue violations and civil penalties for noncompliance.

Beyond enforcement, the FRA administers research and development programs and funding for railroad infrastructure and passenger rail, and it owns the national rail research and test facility near Pueblo, Colorado historically operated through Transportation Technology Center, Inc.

The FRA's safety mission is distinct from economic regulation: while the FRA regulates how railroads operate safely, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) regulates the economics of the industry, such as rates, mergers, and line abandonments.

Website: https://railroads.dot.gov/