As we enter a new economic and political environment in 2025, the US rail industry faces significant challenges.
Railroads are under huge pressure to keep profitability up while absorbing higher operational costs, replacing ageing infrastructure, and meeting higher customer expectations. In such a pressurized business climate, railroad operators are investing in advanced rail technology to satisfy stakeholder demands by driving greater operational efficiency and rail safety. Here are the latest technologies that will transform railroad operations in 2025 and beyond.
1. Internet of Things (IoT)
Integrated IoT systems are becoming a more common feature of American railroads, connecting rail assets such as train carriages, signaling equipment and tracks with digital platforms (via smart sensors) in order to collect large volumes of real-time data. Benefits to railroads include:
Real-time incident alerts
Optimizing maintenance schedules
Increasing the lifespan of rail assets
Reducing downtime due to malfunction
Improving reliability
Improved operational efficiency
Improved passenger safety
2. Targeted Data Capture & Data Analysis
Data analysis is becoming highly sophisticated and nuanced as the number of business use cases in the railroad industry expands. It’s not only about capturing real-time data but determining the most useful data streams to inform more effective and strategic decision-making.
For example, at Tracsis, we are working with our technology partners to integrate GPS data within our advanced Computer Aided Dispatching platform. The leveraging of third-party data such as GPS, geo-spatial tools and AI capabilities increases efficiencies and operational awareness in train dispatch by enabling better visibility across rail networks.
3. AI Integration
AI is being harnessed in combination with IoT technology and data analytics to improve on-time reliability and rail safety. Deep learning algorithms can be used to optimize train schedules and reduce the possibility of delays, disruptions, and collisions. AI can also be harnessed to maximize the life cycle of rail assets through smarter management and predictive maintenance.
Advancements in Generative AI are expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing the commuter rail experience. Instead of having to wait on hold and press multiple buttons to get information, passengers may soon be able to get an immediate, personalized response to their queries via an app on their smart phone or tablet.
4. More Mobile Apps
Mobile apps will become ubiquitous in the delivery of passenger rail and freight rail services.
In passenger rail, paper ticketing is being phased out in favour of smart ticketing platforms that allow passengers to plan and pay for their journeys via an app, while also enabling railroads to gather useful data in order to better understand the customer experience and common pain points. For example, in the UK, the smartTIS smart ticketing system by iBlocks covers one fifth of the nation’s rail stations and has facilitated more than 30 million passenger journeys by rail and bus.
Rail workers are increasingly relying on mobile apps for greater convenience and safety while carrying out maintenance work. Apps such as the Tracsis Digital Track Warrant eliminate reliance on voice communications (notoriously prone to error) by introducing a secure digital data exchange between rail workers and train dispatchers to enable access to safe track points.
5. Passenger Experience
A key rail trend this decade is the push towards an overall better passenger experience in order to encourage more Americans to consider the benefits of commuter rail. Just getting passengers from A to B is no longer enough: the passenger experience needs to be convenient and frictionless from the moment a ticket is purchased to the time the passenger reaches their destination – and new generation rail technology is playing a big role in making this happen.
Regarding IC Rail, the new Acela fleet operating between Washington DC and Boston will be among the passenger rail services setting the tone, featuring comfy seats with lots of leg room, personal outlets and USB ports, complimentary Wi-Fi, and restrooms with contactless features. Described by Amtrak as ‘its most environmentally sustainable fleet of trains to date’, the new Acela will operate at speeds of up to 160mph, compared to 150mph for the older Acela fleet [1].
6. High Speed Rail
There will be a focus on high speed rail projects in 2025 on the back of the introduction of the faster Acela fleet and construction of the Brightline West passenger rail service on the other side of the country. Brightline West will boast a journey time of just over two hours from Las Vegas to Greater Los Angeles – twice as fast as by car – thanks to all-electric zero emission trains with top speeds of over 200mph [2]. While the first trains are not expected to be operational until 2028, the buzz around Brightline West will renew interest in other high speed rail proposals, including routes from Dallas to Houston, Atlanta to Charlotte, and Portland-Seattle-Vancouver.
7. Positive Train Control (PTC)
One rail trend which is growing exponentially is the development of increasingly sophisticated and versatile Positive Train Control (PTC) systems tailored to the specific needs of different sizes and types of railroads. There is more market awareness that a ‘one size fits all’ approach typically benefits none.
The latest generation of PTC systems are agile, reliable and easily configurable, compatible with third-party systems, and incorporating the latest in Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Back Office Server (BOS) technologies.
8. Sustainability
Railroads are the most sustainable form of high-volume transport and the industry continues to work hard towards reducing its carbon footprint. One rail trend creating a lot of interest is the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell trains, powered by electricity produced by combining hydrogen and oxygen, and emitting only water vapor as a waste product. While the cost is currently prohibitive, this will come down as the technology advances.
Other initiatives making headlines include electric trains powered by renewables (solar or wind energy) and the installation of solar panels along rail tracks and on buildings to power lighting, signaling, and station operations.
The use of rail technology such as Computer Aided Dispatching is improving sustainability by increasing fuel efficiency while reducing train dwell times.
9. Predictive Maintenance
Railroads are increasingly taking a pro-active approach to rail maintenance, using technology to constantly monitor the condition of their rail assets so they can prevent failures and methodically plan renewal, rather than waiting for something to go wrong.
The application of IoT-enabled advanced analytics means that railroads can have superior visibility of their assets wherever they are located, even in extremely remote or inhospitable environments, without having to send engineers off on long and costly site visits.
Remote Condition Monitoring (RCM) uses sensors to capture data from rail assets such as signaling equipment, which is then sent to the cloud for analysis. The technology can be used to improve asset reliability and efficiency and to investigate the root cause behind malfunctions.
10. Automation
No round-up of rail trends would be complete without addressing the rapid adoption of automation. At a time when railroads are under such pressure to deliver improved performance and efficiency, automation is enabling companies to work smarter, freeing up skilled engineers and maintenance workers from routine tasks to focus on higher level work.
Autonomous trains are in the spotlight, especially after the East Japan Railway Company announced in September that it would be launching driverless bullet trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 170mph. However, many of the business use cases for railroad automation are less dramatic, such as the use of robots for infrastructure cleaning and maintenance.
Tracsis has been leading the way in rail technology for over 20 years. Contact us to find out more about the latest PTC and CAD solutions.
1. https://www.amtrak.com/next-generation-high-speed-trains
2. https://www.brightlinewest.com/overview/project
