The Federal Railroad Administration writes and enforces the safety regulations covering track, signals, equipment, operating practices, hours of service and hazardous materials. Its inspectors ride trains, walk yards and audit records, and can write violations against a railroad or an individual employee. Crews refer to FRA rules by part number, so Part 218 means blue flag and operating practices and Part 240 means engineer certification.
FRA's in the yard this morning, so blue flags up, three-step protection, and nobody skips a job briefing.
Also heard as
- the Feds
Related terms
Hours of service
The federal limit on how long train and engine crews may stay on duty before mandatory rest.
Blue flag
A blue signal marking equipment that workers are on, under or between, which no one may couple to or move.
PTC
Positive train control: an onboard and wayside system that stops a train before it breaks a speed limit or authority.
Rule G
The operating rule banning alcohol and drugs on duty, and shorthand for breaking it.