FRA’s Automated Track Inspection Program (ATIP) helps America's railroads improve railroad safety and inform high-level trend analyses. ATIP cars conduct operational surveys of the Nation’s rail transportation network to reduce the risk of track-caused accidents/incidents by accurately collecting and disseminating track condition information and intelligence to FRA and respective railroads for proper corrective action and maintenance planning. 

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:

• Asset inventory
• Foot-by-foot analyses
• GIS mapping
• Track condition assessments
• Risk analyses
• Technology advancement

ATIP Fleet

The ATIP fleet consists of the following vehicle platforms:

• 3 staffed rail-bound geometry platforms 
• 2 autonomous geometry box cars 
• 1 autonomous geometry car in passenger service
• 1 hi-rail geometry vehicle
• 1 hi-rail ultrasonic rail test vehicle