FRA Approves Reduced Manual Track Inspections & What It Means for Rail Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently approved a waiver allowing freight railroads to reduce the frequency of manual track inspections when automated inspection technology is being used consistently. Under the new guidelines, railroads may shift from twice-weekly visual inspections to once a week, supported by automated systems that use lasers, sensors, and high-resolution imaging to detect changes in track geometry.

Railroads maintain that this technology is more sensitive and efficient than traditional inspections. In multi-year pilot programs, automated inspections identified significantly more geometry defects per mile than visual inspections alone. They argue that with fewer mandated walk-throughs, inspectors will be able to focus on switches, special trackwork, drainage issues, and other components that still require hands-on evaluation.

However, the approval has raised important questions across the industry. Many safety professionals point out that automated systems have limitations. Technology can detect alignment issues, but it cannot always catch the root causes of track problems, such as shifting ballast, vegetation intrusion, deteriorating ties, or subtle drainage failures. Others have noted that long-term familiarity with a territory helps an inspector recognize early warning signs before they evolve into geometry defects.

There is also the concern that over-reliance on automation creates blind spots. High-profile incidents in recent years have shown that technology can fail or be improperly spaced, leaving significant gaps in monitoring. For this reason, many argue that automated inspection should be a supplement, not a replacement, for experienced track personnel.

Axiom’s Perspective:

Technology Is Valuable, But Not Sufficient

At Axiom Rail Services, we believe automated inspection tools are a powerful resource that continues to improve the industry. They play an important role in enhancing efficiency and identifying surface-level defects quickly. However, we also recognize that safe rail operations rely on a balance between innovation and hands-on expertise.

Our track inspection philosophy is built on three principles:

1. Technology enhances safety, but human judgment protects it.

Automated systems provide excellent data, but only trained inspectors can interpret the full context: soil conditions, drainage patterns, tie health, rail soundness, and environmental changes along the right-of-way.

2. Many early-stage issues cannot be detected by sensors alone.

Problems often begin below the surface. Ballast contamination, slope instability, vegetation growth, and timber deterioration are physical conditions that demand a physical presence.

3. Familiarity matters.

Inspectors who routinely walk or ride a territory develop an understanding of the track that technology cannot replicate. They notice subtle changes in behavior and conditions long before they trigger a geometry alarm.

For these reasons, Axiom continues to emphasize comprehensive, hands-on inspections performed by FRA-qualified professionals, supported—but not replaced—by technological tools.

Moving Forward

The FRA’s decision is likely to shape how the industry approaches inspections in the coming years. While automation will continue to expand, the need for well-trained inspectors remains essential. Rail safety is strongest when technology and human expertise work together, each addressing the areas where the other is limited.

Axiom Rail Services will continue to monitor these regulatory changes and support our clients by ensuring that every inspection, manual or assisted by technology, meets the highest safety standards.