Norfolk Southern’s train inspection portals win innovation award

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern’s Digital Train Inspection (DTI) portals have been recognized in Fast Company’s 2025 Innovation by Design Awards, receiving an honorable mention in the Artificial Intelligence Design category. It’s the first time a railroad has earned a spot in the business technology magazine’s annual awards. “This recognition highlights how our innovation is transforming […]

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Parallel Systems shifts into second phase of testing on G&W in Georgia

Parallel Systems has begun the second phase of testing its autonomous, battery-electric railcars on Genesee & Wyoming short line Heart of Georgia Railroad. The first phase of testing was performed on a 2-mile section of track on the Heart of Georgia. The Parallel vehicle was operated for a total of 90 miles and passed all […]

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Intramotev announces commercial agreement with Watco to deploy TugVolt technology

ST. LOUIS — Intramotev, the technology company building autonomous battery-electric freight cars, announced on Tuesday that Watco will begin using Intramotev’s TugVolt system, starting at its transload terminal in Wood River, Ill., in January. “At Watco, we’re always exploring new ways to support our customers,” Aaron Jensen, Watco’s senior vice president of operations solutions and […]

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NTSB calls for collision-avoidance technology on maintenance-of-way machinery

Diagram of fatal track-work accident near Great Barrington, Mass.

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board has called for on-track rail maintenance equipment to be equipped with collision avoidance technology that can detect people or objects prior to a crash. The recommendation came as part of the final investigation report released today (Sept. 3, 2025) on an Aug. 4, 2023, accident in Great Barrington, […]

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TTX joins RailPulse telematics joint venture

TTX has joined the RailPulse Coalition, becoming the latest member of the cross-industry effort to transform railcar visibility, safety, and efficiency through the adoption of telematics and data standardization. TTX’s entry into RailPulse adds the scale, operational expertise, and fleet management capabilities of North America’s leading shared railcar provider, the companies said today. TTX, which […]

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Parallel Systems and G&W see huge potential for autonomous container cars

Parallel Systems is only in the early innings of testing its self-propelled, autonomous flatcars on Genesee & Wyoming short lines in Georgia and already CEO Matt Soule says he’s likely to have a problem on his hands. “Parallel is going to have a manufacturing backlog problem,” the Parallel Systems founder predicted on a webcast last […]

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House panel debates rail safety technology initiatives

WASHINGTON — The partisan split over the implementation of technology in the railroad industry was on display during a House subcommittee hearing today. Republicans favored unleashing innovation and modernizing outdated Federal Railroad Administration regulations that they say stand in the way of progress. Democrats on the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous […]

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DC Metrorail expands automated operation systemwide

Rapid-transit train arrives at above-ground station

WASHINGTON — DC Metrorail is now operating its entire system with Automatic Train Operation, having expanded use of the automated system to the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines as of today (June 15, 2025). The system, which was part of Metrorail from its launch in 1976, was shut off in 2009 following a fatal collision. […]

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Parallel Systems begins testing autonomous car on G&W short line

Parallel Systems and Genesee & Wyoming short line Heart of Georgia Railroad this week began the first phase of testing of Parallel’s autonomous, battery-electric flat car. The initial round of testing of Parallel’s container car is being conducted near Glenwood, Ga., in conjunction with the Federal Railroad Administration. The equipment has already been put through […]

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AAR seeks FRA permission to scale back visual track inspections where automated systems are used to find defects

Boxcar equipped with scientific instruments for railroad track inspection.

WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads has asked the Federal Railroad Administration to allow less frequent visual track inspections in territory where automated track inspection systems are used. “The primary benefit of using automated inspection technologies is earlier detection of track defects enabling railroads to switch from reactive to preventative maintenance practices. A strictly […]

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DC Metrorail gets go-ahead for expanded use of train automation

Rapid-transit train arrives in station as people wait on platform

WASHINGTON — DC Metrorail has received the go-ahead to expand its use of Automatic Train Operation to its Green and Yellow lines as of this Friday, May 23. The independent Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, which previously had expressed concern about station overruns with ATO on the Metrorail Red Line, has concurred with the plan, the […]

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CPKC says FRA is open to automated and streamlined track and train inspections

Grain train led by red locomotive

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific Kansas City executives say they are encouraged by discussions with the Federal Railroad Administration about rolling out new track and train inspection technology. It’s a turnabout for the FRA, which during the Biden administration stymied Class I railroad efforts to combine automated track and equipment inspections with traditional visual inspections […]

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