The Railroads' Next Test: Trusting Automated Inspection

Railroads seek to scale back but not replace some manual track checks as automation reshapes U.S. rail safety

16 May 2025

America's freight railways are testing how far technology can go in keeping trains safe. In April 2025 the Association of American Railroads (AAR) asked regulators to let carriers reduce, but not scrap, manual track inspections. The group wants to replace some of them with automated systems that scan rails continuously as trains roll past. The result is one of the industry's most consequential safety debates in decades.

Automated Track Inspection (ATI) and Track Geometry Measurement Systems (TGMS) use sensors and lasers to detect flaws in rail alignment, gauge and crosslevel. Mounted on moving trains, they promise faster and more consistent data than any pair of human eyes. "This isn't about removing human inspections," said an AAR spokesperson. "We're supplementing visual checks with data-driven tools." The group's petition would allow some lines using ATI to cut visual inspections by as much as three-quarters, from twice a week to twice a month.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has yet to approve the plan. Labour unions and safety advocates urge caution, warning that machines excel at spotting geometric defects but miss signs of ballast wear, drainage trouble or rotting ties. "The AAR'S proposed reduction goes too far, too fast," said the SMART Union. "Technology should enhance, not replace, skilled human judgment."

Proponents counter that fewer but more targeted inspections would free workers to focus on high-risk sections, guided by real-time data. A Reuters report noted that a predictive approach, where software flags risks early, could make freight networks both safer and more efficient.

For now the FRA's decision will determine whether algorithms can share the burden of America's 140,000 miles of track. If approved, the change could mark the quiet start of a new era, one where steel and software keep the trains on course together.