FRA’s Automated Track Inspection Program (ATIP) helps America's railroads improve railroad quality and safety. ATIP cars conduct operational surveys of the Nation’s rail transportation network to determine railroads’ compliance with Federal Track Safety Standards and for trend analysis and technology advancement.  

ATIP Data

FRA uses ATIP data to assess the effectiveness of railroads' track maintenance and inspection processes and to inform FRA’s manual inspection activities. FRA provides data to railroads to assist them in making repairs and improving maintenance quality. FRA also provides data to safety stakeholders and other agencies for research and development activities. 

FRA’s ATIP program pioneered automated track inspection technology used by all Class I railroads, and it continues to support development and demonstration of track inspection technologies. 

In addition, data collected by ATIP vehicles support the following efforts:

• Foot-by-foot analyses
• GIS mapping
• State of good repair assessments
• Risk analyses
• Technology advancement
• Track safety trend analyses

ATIP fleet

The ATIP fleet consists of the following 8 vehicle platforms:

• 3 staffed geometry vehicles 
• 3 autonomous geometry vehicles 
• 1 hi-rail geometry vehicle
• 1 hi-rail ultrasonic rail test vehicle