The derailment of a train carrying hazardous materials in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this year has reinvigorated congressional interest in improving rail safety in the United States. As Congress considers legislation to improve the safety of the nation’s rail system, investing in technologies that can help prevent future accidents should be a priority. Specifically, Congress should direct the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to support further testing and deployment of automated technologies that leverage advances in computer vision, machine learning and data analytics to provide real-time data on the condition of the tracks and help identify potential safety hazards.
As Daniel Castro writes in Inside Sources, Congress should include support for autonomous track geometry measurement system in the Railways Safety Act to prevent future accidents. By investing in the development and testing of innovative technologies, Congress can help ensure that the nation’s rail system is safe and reliable.
Read the op-ed.
