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September 2025
Compiled by Bridget Dean, Associate Editor
As railroads and shippers seek greater automation and safety in yard operations, new technologies are replacing time-intensive, manual processes. Industrial Networks has developed the SMRTag™ system, an Internet of Things (IoT)-based solution designed to automate rail-car inventory in industrial rail yards.
The system replaces manual methods that often require workers to walk trackside and record or scan each car individually with a faster, safer and more accurate process that can reduce dwell time, speed billing cycles and improve service reliability, company officials said. In addition, the system can help reduce switches per car, further optimizing yard efficiency.
SMRTag operates within INet’s SMRTMesh™ network. Battery-powered, ground-mounted anchors are positioned throughout a yard to detect and locate SMRTags™ attached to rail cars. This network is designed to provide precise, real-time position data for multiple cars simultaneously, helping operators locate assets instantly, minimize search time and keep trains moving on schedule, all while reducing exposure to yard hazards, company officials said.
Within a yard, SMRTag provides powerful insights into rail-car condition and location, they said. The system integrates with sensors that measure impact, pressure, load/empty status and temperature, enabling early detection of issues that can disrupt switching, inspections or outbound readiness. By identifying problems before they escalate, operators can resolve issues faster and keep traffic flowing smoothly, company officials said.
By processing millions of data points per second through resilient communications, SMRTag provides yard operators a comprehensive tool to optimize productivity, enhance safety and protect valuable assets, they said. With real-time data driving decisions, rail yards can gain the visibility and efficiency needed to reduce costs, improve turnaround times and maintain safe working conditions.
Apex Rail Automation offers the Modular Yard Automation (MYA) system, a scalable and flexible solution designed to meet the evolving needs of railroads of all sizes. Built on over two decades of industry experience, MYA is engineered to streamline yard operations by integrating switch control, derail monitoring, RFID tracking and user-friendly touch screen kiosks into a unified control platform, Apex Rail officials said in an email.
The system’s modular design enables railroads to implement automation at their own pace, one zone or function at a time. This approach makes automation attainable and cost-effective, whether upgrading a single switch or modernizing an entire yard, Apex Rail officials said.
The company works directly with each railroad to develop a solution tailored to their operational goals and infrastructure.
From Class I to short-line operations, MYA has delivered proven results by improving safety, increasing throughput and reducing manual labor, Apex Rail officials said. The system’s intuitive interfaces and robust architecture can provide dependable performance in demanding environments.
Apex Rail is committed to transforming transportation through automation that is built to last, adapt and grow, company officials said. By focusing on long-term success rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, the company is helping reshape the future of rail yard technology, they said.
The patent-pending ZoneGuard yard protection system warns workers within a rail yard of any incoming track vehicles or cars being pushed into the facility, Miller Ingenuity officials said. The system won an innovation award from the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association.
ZoneGuard’s train detection modules (TDMs) and train alert modules (TAMs) are mounted throughout a rail yard to form a communication network. The TDMs and TAMs are configured based on the customer’s specific track profile, such as line of sight, maximum allowable speed and curves.
Once a train is detected, the system sends a signal to the worker’s wearable devices that will alert them of the approaching track vehicle via an audible, physical and visual alarm. The radio signal from their wearable device will stay with them and connect to the nearest TDM or TAM, Miller Ingenuity officials said.
ZoneGuard’s combination of diverse sensor technologies ensures track vehicles are detected with consistency and accuracy, helping workers stay alert without unnecessary false warnings and remain safe from missed detections, they said.
The system will only alert the workers within a rail yard if there is movement coming into the facility. It will not alert the workers if they are performing their own switching operations or if rail traffic is leaving the facility, company officials said.
The technology can detect directional motion while also preventing detections of non-track vehicle movements, such as animals, pedestrians, weather events, cars and detections in multi-track environments.
Trainyard Tech LLC is advancing its yard control technology by transitioning to ClassMaster2™ (CM2), the next-generation upgrade to its proven ClassMaster™ system. This upgrade includes the deployment of new VMX computing equipment configured to meet the latest operational and security standards, company officials said.
CM2 and RouteMaster2™ are built with a modern C# programming environment, ensuring enhanced security, long-term reliability and compliance with government recommendations, they said. By eliminating outdated third-party software, CM2 can reduce vulnerabilities and improve system stability.
The platform incorporates a web-based user interface, delivering a highly secure, browser-accessible environment that simplifies workstation setup, streamlines user credential management and provides flexible, performance-focused display options, Trainyard Tech officials said.
The system supports secure, encrypted communication between servers, safeguarding operational data. A major improvement is the expanded real-time database capacity, increasing from 200 cars in the original ClassMaster™ to 10,000 cars in CM2, enabling more robust yard management.
Built on a scalable infrastructure, CM2 is designed to accommodate future innovations such as Terminal Yard Planner, Maintenance Assistant Software, AI-driven calibration and expanded reporting capabilities. Field device control is also significantly improved, with DAP processing speeds more than doubled, higher resolution I/O processing, and enhanced measurement accuracy for DTC, radar, and wheel detector inputs, leading to better velocity and rolling resistance analysis, company officials said.
Overall, CM2 delivers a secure, high-performance and future-ready yard control solution, positioning customers to benefit from improved efficiency, easier maintenance and the capacity to handle the growing demands of modern rail operations, they said.
Progress Rail offers a suite of advanced rail yard technology products designed to enhance operational efficiency, safety and sustainability across rail networks. The technologies are part of the company’s broader strategy to create smart, connected fleets and optimize rail yard operations through data-driven solutions, officials from Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, said.
One of the offerings is the Nitro Suite, which includes NitroYard, a decision-support system designed to streamline yard movements such as train arrivals, locomotive scouting, loading/unloading and train formation. NitroYard integrates with other railroad systems to reduce delays and improve overall yard efficiency.
The Talos™ Train Automation system uses machine learning to analyze and optimize train routes. It adapts to train behavior to deliver fuel savings, reduce emissions and improve train handling, contributing to safer operations and increased network capacity, Progress Rail officials said.
The PR Uptime™ Suite supports condition-based maintenance by leveraging operational data. It includes tools such as Uptime Cloud for secure data storage, Uptime Connect for safe data transmission and Uptime Analytics for predictive diagnostics. These tools help railroads reduce costs, minimize downtime and improve productivity, Progress Rail officials said.
Additionally, the PowerView™ Suite offers remote monitoring solutions, including event recorders and fuel monitoring systems, enhancing asset protection and operational visibility.
Email questions and comments to bridget.dean@tradepress.com.
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