Inside the Smart Rail Revolution Rolling Across America

Wabtec's 2025 telematics certification and Industrial Networks' acquisition accelerate U.S. rail's IoT transformation

6 Mar 2025

The U.S. freight rail industry is entering a new phase of digital integration, as rail operators adopt advanced sensors and analytics to improve efficiency and safety. Recent certifications, acquisitions, and prototypes are reshaping the sector’s approach to real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.

In March 2025, Wabtec became a RailPulse-certified telematics vendor, a milestone that places it at the centre of the industry’s interoperable data network. The certification confirms that Wabtec’s systems can exchange standardized data across multiple freight operators, advancing efforts to build a unified digital infrastructure. Industry analysts see this as a crucial step toward broader automation and data sharing across North America’s rail network.

Following the certification, Wabtec unveiled two prototype systems designed to improve asset monitoring. The Maverick platform applies edge analytics to detect railcar faults in real time, reducing inspection delays and potential service disruptions. Its second prototype, RailGhost, now undergoing field trials, uses predictive modelling to forecast component failures before they occur. Both projects reflect the growing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in freight operations.

In August 2025, Industrial Networks announced its acquisition by a leading rail technology group. The move aims to accelerate national deployment of the company’s SMRTag yard automation platform. Integration work has begun to align SMRTag data with major logistics software providers, expanding visibility and performance tracking for rail operators.

Together, these developments mark a pivotal year for U.S. rail modernization. Certification, innovation, and consolidation are bringing the sector closer to a connected digital ecosystem. As telematics, sensors, and analytics converge, the country’s freight network is shifting from manual oversight to predictive intelligence, positioning rail as a faster and more responsive mode of transport in the decade ahead.