What Data Shows About Modern Track Inspections and Rail Safety

2. Union Pacific News
3. Safety

What Data Shows About Modern Track Inspections and Rail Safety

Those efforts are delivering results. Since ATI began operating under a Federal Railroad Administration-approved waiver on designated routes, Union Pacific has recorded zero track-caused derailments across those territories.

Track inspection is one example of how technology and the expertise of experienced railroaders work together to strengthen safety across the network.

ATI uses specialized sensors and measurement tools to identify potential track geometry defects. Since March, ATI has identified more than 200 geometry defects on Union Pacific's waiver routes - five times the number identified through visual inspections alone. Those findings provide inspectors with earlier visibility into track conditions and help crews focus their efforts where they can have the greatest impact.

"The technology often identifies conditions that aren't obvious during a visual inspection," said Michael Gilliam, general director-Engineering Inspection and Capital Planning. "That's valuable because it gives our crews insight they might not otherwise have and helps them address potential issues earlier."

ATI complements, rather than replaces, visual inspections. ATI and traditional inspections often identify different types of conditions, making both important parts of the inspection process. While ATI is specifically designed to detect track geometry defects, visual inspections continue to play a critical role in identifying other conditions across the network.

Crews are putting those insights to work. While the waiver requires inspections only once per week, Union Pacific continues to inspect beyond those requirements. Inspection coverage increased from more than 17,000 track miles in March to more than 29,000 in June. During that same period, ATI-guided special inspections increased by more than 1,000 miles, helping crews target areas that may benefit from additional attention.

The data also helps crews prioritize maintenance. Since March, inspectors have identified more than 2,100 track conditions across the network. Some require immediate action, while others can be safely managed through routine maintenance. In fact, 96% of the defects inspectors identified on waiver routes could be safely addressed through routine maintenance, demonstrating that defect counts alone don't tell the whole story.

The goal is simple: help railroaders see more, sooner. ATI provides another tool to support safer, more effective inspections while helping crews focus their expertise where it can have the greatest impact.

Visit UP.com/innovation to learn how Union Pacific continually advances technologies that enhance safety, aid employee decision-making and improve efficiency. 

Executing Union Pacific's Safety, Service and Operational Excellence strategy lays a strong foundation for creating America's first transcontinental railroad.