Railroads to Reduce Track Inspections, Increase Use of Automated Technology Following Federal Approval
December 5, 2025 – ABC News
The nation’s freight railroads will now be permitted to reduce the frequency of in-person track inspections and rely more heavily on automated technology, following the federal government’s approval of a waiver request on Friday. The decision marks a significant shift in rail safety protocols that had remained largely unchanged for over five decades.
Modern Technology to Replace Frequent Visual Inspections
The waiver, approved by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), responds to a request from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), a trade group representing freight rail companies. The AAR argued that safety regulations, originally established in 1971, require modernizing due to advances in automated track inspection technology.
Today’s cutting-edge systems use a combination of cameras, lasers, and other sensors mounted on locomotives or railcars to detect potential defects in tracks. These technologies continuously monitor track geometry — including alignment, elevation, and gauge — identifying issues before they evolve into more serious problems.
According to testing conducted by major railroads BNSF and Norfolk Southern, shifting from twice-weekly human inspections to just twice a month, complemented by automated inspections, actually improved safety outcomes. These findings helped shape the FRA’s decision, which allows railroads to reduce required visual inspections to a minimum of once a week.
Federal Railroad Administration Sets Repair Timelines
While the railroads sought permission to extend repair deadlines to up to three days for defects identified by automated inspections, the FRA maintained stricter standards. Serious defects must be repaired immediately, and all defects need to be addressed within 24 hours to ensure continued track safety.
Mike Rush, senior vice president of safety and operations at the Association of American Railroads, emphasized the capability of these automated systems to monitor “ultimate performance” by observing track geometry. “If components like the ballast or ties are not functioning properly, it will be reflected in the track geometry, which our systems detect,” Rush explained.
Union Concerns Over Reduced Visual Inspections
The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), representing track inspectors, voiced concerns about relying too heavily on technology. Union President Tony Cardwell criticized the technology’s limitations, pointing out that automated systems cannot detect critical issues such as shifting ballast under the tracks, encroaching vegetation, rail cracks, or deteriorating railroad ties. He described the technology as “a glorified tape measure” that has seen little advancement in recent decades.
Cardwell and the union’s safety director, Roy Morrison, stressed that frequent visual inspections give inspectors valuable familiarity with their territories, enabling them to notice subtle, early warning signs of defects that automated systems might miss. Morrison stated, “A track inspector who’s out on his mainline twice a week knows that track inside out and can spot defects even before measuring.”
The union advocates that automated inspection equipment should supplement, rather than replace, human inspections to maintain and enhance safety.
Railroads Highlight Benefits of Inspector Redeployment
Conversely, railroads contend that reducing mandatory track inspections will free inspectors to concentrate on areas requiring manual checks, such as switches and other critical equipment. Norfolk Southern noted that during their 18-month trial, while automated systems took on more of the track inspection load, inspectors devoted more time to these other crucial safety areas, leading to overall improvements.
Additionally, railroads confirm that even with reduced regular inspections, special inspections will still occur routinely after major storms or flooding events to assess any potential impact on track integrity.
Data Highlights Increased Defect Detection Through Technology
During BNSF’s two-year testing phase, automated systems detected defects at a rate of 4.54 per 100 miles, in contrast to just 0.01 per 100 miles found through manual inspections alone. This substantial difference persuaded federal regulators that frequent visual inspections could be safely scaled back when regular automated monitoring is in place.
Balancing Innovation with Safety
The FRA’s approval signals a move toward embracing technology-driven safety innovations within the freight rail industry, while still maintaining rigorous safety standards and repair requirements. The decision seeks to balance the benefits of modern automated inspections with the invaluable experience and judgment of human inspectors.
As railroads implement this new inspection regime, ongoing monitoring and collaboration between industry stakeholders, unions, and regulators will be crucial to ensure that safety continues to improve and derailments decline.
Reported by Josh Funk, AP Transportation Writer for ABC News.
