A proposal to reduce in-person rail track inspections in favor of automated technology is drawing pushback from unions and lawmakers. Supporters argue the system would catch defects earlier and improve efficiency, but critics say it misses many hazards that trained inspectors can spot. Opponents warn that cutting human oversight could increase the risk of derailments, pointing to past accidents where automation failed to detect problems. The Federal Railroad Administration is reviewing the request but has not yet made a decision.
See "US lawmakers, unions oppose railroad plan to automate track safety inspections", Lisa Baertlein, Reuters, August 25, 2025