Robotization in railway transport
Abstract
This article discusses the current trends and prospects of robotizing technological processes in rail transport. Key technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision, and predictive analytics are analyzed for their ability to automate maintenance, diagnostics, construction, and safety processes. Particular attention is paid to the use of robotic systems in various areas of rail transportation, including passenger services and logistics. The limitations associated with introducing robots are examined, and solutions are proposed. This article is based on an analysis of international experience and current data from 2024 to 2025.
About the Authors
A. I. DolgyRussian Federation
Alexander I. Dolgy, Ph.D., General Director
Moscow
A. E. Hatlamadzhiyan
Russian Federation
Agop E. Hatlamadzhiyan, Ph.D., Deputy General Director
Moscow
A. V. Ozerov
Russian Federation
Aleksey V. Ozerov, Head of the International Department
Moscow
A. V. Bochkov
Russian Federation
Alexander V. Bochkov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Scientific Secretary
Moscow
References
1. M. Gooroochurn, “Robotics and Automation in Industry 4.0,” in Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics, 2025, doi: 10.1201/9781003511298-4.
2. M. Mohammadi, A. Mosleh, C. Vale, D. Ribeiro, P. A. Montenegro, and A. Meixedo, “Smart railways: AI-based track-side monitoring for wheel flat identification,” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 2025, doi: 10.1177/09544097251313570.
3. ARGO 2.0 [Электронный ресурс]. URL: https://nextgen-robotics.it/products/argo-20 (дата обращения: 02.09.2025).
4. Transforming Rail Operations Through Automated Robotic Inspection [Электронный ресурс]. URL: https://www.anybotics.com/news/transforming-rail-operations-through-automated-robotic-inspection/ (дата обращения: 02.09.2025).
5. S. Sarp, M. Kuzlu, V. Jovanovic, Z. Polat, and Ö. Güler, “Digitalization of railway transportation through AI-powered services: digital twin trains,” European Transport Research Review, vol. 16, no. 1, p. 29, 2024, doi: 10.1186/s12544-024-00679-5.
6. A. Gaurav and V. Arya, “AI Technologies in Robotics,” in Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics Book Series, 2024, doi: 10.4018/979-8-3693-2707-4.ch002.
7. S. M. Garlapati, C. S. S. Anupama, S. Shaik, M. D. D. Balaga, and S. Chennamsetti, “Automatic Robot for Rail Crack Detection System,” in 2024 IEEE International Conference on Computational Systems and Information Technology for Sustainable Solutions (CSITSS), 2024, doi: 10.1109/CSITSS64042.2024.10816797.
8. P. Kilsby and K. Li, “Enabling Intelligent Robotic Visual Inspection in the Railway Industry with Generative AI,” in 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics (IRC), 2024, doi: 10.1109/IRC63610.2024.00051.
9. AeoLogic Technologies, “How AI is Transforming Railway Equipment Manufacturing in 2025, ” Robotics Tomorrow, 2025. [Электронный ресурс]. URL: https://www.roboticstomorrow.com/news/2025/06/25/how-ai-is-transforming-railway-equipment-manufacturing-in-2025/24978.
10. N. AlNaimi and U. Qidwai, “IoT Based on-the-fly Visual Defect Detection in Railway Tracks,” in 2020 IEEE International Conference on Internet of Things, 2020, doi: 10.1109/ICIoT48696.2020.9089560.
11. N. K. Samia et al., “Automated Railway Maintenance System in Context of Bangladesh,” in 2019 IEEE International Conference on Advances in Electronics, Computers and Communications (ICAECC), 2019, doi: 10.1109/ICASERT.2019.8934529.
12. R. K. W. Vithanage, C. S. Harrison, and A. Desilva, “Importance and applications of robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) in railway maintenance sector: a review,” Computers, vol. 8, no. 3, p. 56, 2019, doi: 10.3390/computers8030056.
13. H. Liu et al., “An autonomous rail-road amphibious robotic system for railway maintenance using sensor fusion and mobile manipulator,” Computers & Electrical Engineering, vol. 109, p. 108874, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.compeleceng.2023.108874.
14. M. Dima, I. A. Chihaia, M. C. Surugiu, and M. Minea, “Preventive Maintenance of the Railway Infrastructure employing Robotized Platform and Virtual Instrumentation,” in 2018 International Conference on Electronics, Computers and Artificial Intelligence (ECAI), 2018, doi: 10.1109/ECAI.2018.8679065.
15. S. Parascho, “Construction Robotics: From Automation to Collaboration,” Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems, vol. 5, pp. 14-21, 2022, doi: 10.1146/annurev-control-080122-090049.
16. M. Rahman, M. Rahimi, A. Starr, I. S. Durazo-Cardenas, A. Hall, and R. O. Anderson, “Challenges for a Railway Inspection and Repair System from Railway Infrastructure,” in 2022 International Conference on Control, Mechatronics and Automation (ICCMA), 2022, doi: 10.1109/ICCMA56665.2022.10011603.
17. Y. Qian, M. S. Dersch, Z. Gao, and J. R. Edwards, “Railroad infrastructure 4.0: Development and application of an automatic ballast support condition assessment system,” Transportation Geotechnics, vol. 19, pp. 178-191, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.trgeo.2019.01.002.
18. R. Yokomura et al., “Automated Construction System of a Modularized Rail Structure for Locomotion and Operation in Hazardous Environments: Realization of Stable Transfer Operation of Different Modules in Multiple Load Directions,” in *2022 IEEE/SICE International Symposium on System Integration (SII)*, 2022, doi: 10.1109/SII52469.2022.9708866.
19. R. Fukui, Y. Kato, G. Kanayama, R. Takahashi, and M. Nakao, “Construction Planning for a Modularized Rail Structure: Type Selection of Rail Structure Modules and Dispatch Planning of Constructor Robots,” in Distributed Autonomous Robotic Systems, 2018, pp. 489-501, doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-73008-0_42.
20. F. Doll, “Robot system for laying a rail track,” Patent US7823367B2, Nov. 2, 2010.
21. F. Collignon and N. Rada, “Railway construction vehicle, construction train comprising such a construction vehicle and process for building a railway,” Patent EP3369654A1, Sep. 5, 2018.
22. V. Shcherbakov, A. Karpik, and M. Barsuk, “Automation of Railroad Construction Technology Using Surveying Methods,” in Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering, 2019, pp. 199-207, doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-37919-3_19.
23. C. Lu, J. Liu, Y. Liu, and Y. Liu, “Intelligent construction technology of railway engineering in China,” Frontiers of Engineering Management, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 551-567, 2019, doi: 10.1007/s42524-019-0073-9.
24. A. Polyanskiy, “Adaptive digital technological regulations development for engineering and intellectual support for the railway track facilities construction,” Scientific and Technical Journal of St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, 2022, doi: 10.15862/03sats122.
25. M. Rahman, H. Liu, I. D. Cardenas, A. Starr, A. Hall, and R. Anderson, “Towards an Autonomous RIRS: Design, Structure Investigation and Framework,” in 2021 9th International Conference on Mechatronics Engineering (ICME), 2021, doi: 10.1109/ICMRE51691.2021.9384846.
26. D. Priyanka, Y. Nandhan, M. Vishal, K. S. Vigneshwar, and M. H. Heartlin, “Securing railways by crack detection technology,” in AI and IoT for Sustainable Development in Emerging Countries, 2024, doi: 10.1201/9781003587538-45.
27. “Underground structure built with robots cuts time and costs [news - briefing],” Engineering & Technology, vol. 17, no. 5, p. 16, 2022, doi: 10.1049/et.2022.1105.
28. E. A. Dudorov, V. V. Kudyukin, and K. A. Kotova, “Robotic complexes for rolling stocks maintenance on Russian railways,” Izvestiâ vysših učebnyh zavedenij, vol. 9, pp. 3-15, 2022, doi: 10.18698/0536-1044-2022-9-3-15.
29. R. A. Gregory and R. Kangari, “Cost/Benefits of Robotics in Infrastructure and Environmental Renewal,” Journal of Infrastructure Systems, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 33-42, 2000, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)1076-0342(2000)6:1(33).
30. R. Hu, W. Pan, K. Iturralde, T. Linner, and T. Bock, “Construction Automation and Robotics for Concrete Construction: Case Studies on Research, Development, and Innovations,” in Proceedings of the 40th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC), 2023, pp. 683-690, doi: 10.22260/ISARC2023/0095.
31. K. K. K. Murthy, O. Goel, and S. Jain, “Advancements in Digital Initiatives for Enhancing Passenger Experience in Railways,” Journal of Digital Innovations & Research, vol. 11, no. 1, 2023, doi: 10.36676/dira.v11.i1.71.
32. M. Shiomi, D. Sakamoto, T. Kanda, C. T. Ishi, H. Ishiguro, and N. Hagita, “Field Trial of a Networked Robot at a Train Station,” International Journal of Social Robotics, vol. 3, pp. 2740, 2011, doi: 10.1007/s12369-010-0077-4.
33. Shiomi, M., Sakamoto, D., Kanda, T., Ishi, C. T., Ishiguro, H., & Hagita, N. (2011). Field Trial of a Networked Robot at a Train Station. Journal Article. doi: 10.1007/S12369-010-0077-4
34. L. Xiao, R. Liu, and W. Huang, “Station guide service robot,” Patent CN104057452A, Sep. 24, 2014.
35. C. Xie, T. He, and M. Wang, “Station robot service system,” Patent CN110262527A, Sep. 20, 2019.
36. L. I. Sakri, S. R. Biradar, M. P. Kulkarni, S. Patilkukarni, and K. Sahana, “Enhancing Passenger Convenience: An Efficient Speech Driven Enquiry System for Railway Stations,” in 2024 IEEE International Conference on Wireless Communications and Internet of Things (ICWITE), 2024, doi: 10.1109/ICWITE59797.2024.10592297.
37. C. Wang et al., “Method and system for checking tickets automatically in railway station,” Patent CN104021521A, Sep. 3, 2014.
38. X. Zeng and W. Zhu, “Multifunctional ticket checking system of railway passenger station,” Patent CN103927585A, Jul. 16, 2014.
39. G. Lu, M. Deng, K. Wang, F. Chen, S. Lu, and X. Li, “Research on Navigation and Positioning of Intelligent Service Robot in High-speed Railway Station Based on ROS System,” in 2023 6th International Conference on Civil Aviation Safety and Information Technology (ICCASIT), 2023, doi: 10.1109/ICCASIT58768.2023.10351751.
40. K. H. Kim, J. G. Hwang, T. H. Lee, and T. K. An, “System and Method for Supporting Route Guidance in Railway Station,” Patent KR1020200031234A, Mar. 24, 2020.
41. Z. Qian et al., “Intelligent robot for railway passenger station and operation method thereof,” Patent CN110450193A, Nov. 12, 2019.
42. S. Guan et al., “Railway transport intelligent safe passage system and passage method,” Patent CN105730456A, Jul. 6, 2016.
43. B. Chen, Y. Zhang, C. Chen, H. Li, and Y. Wang, “Railway transport of passengers station platform passenger safety protection system that waits,” Patent CN105383485A, Mar. 9, 2016.
44. 44. S. Blake, “Shiro-Neko, A Stationmaster Robot that Operates an Unmanned Station,” in Social Robots in Social Institutions, 2023, pp. 13-21, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-29871-4_2.
45. J. Kuang and Q. Wang, “Passenger train intelligent service system based on service robot,” Patent CN109808746A, May. 28, 2019.
46. T. Ogawa, “Autonomous support robot for customer service terminal equipment,” Patent JP2013233884A, Nov. 21, 2013.
47. J.-G. Hwang, K.-H. Kim, T.-H. Lee, T.-K. Ahn, and M.-S. Jin, “Operational scenario of cobot for escort of the mobility handicapped at railway stations,” in Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Railway Engineering, 2018, pp. 121-130, doi: 10.2495/CR180211.
48. М. Руденко, “Digital transformation of passenger rail transport: evaluation of the effectiveness of installing digital screens and implementing interactive information systems on trains,” Science and Technology, vol. 1, no. 8, pp. 110-122, 2024, doi: 10.31319/2709-2879.2024iss1(8).306486pp110-122.
49. M. Rahman, M. Rahimi, A. Starr, I. Durazo Cardenas, A. Hall, and R. O. Anderson, “An overview of the challenges for railway maintenance robots,” in Proceedings of the UK-RAS Conference, 2022, doi: 10.31256/bx2wd2o.
50. M. Rahman, H. Liu, I. Durazo Cardenas, A. Starr, A. Hall, and R. O. Anderson, “A Review on the Prospects of Mobile Manipulators for Smart Maintenance of Railway Track,” Applied Sciences, vol. 13, no. 11, p. 6484, 2023, doi: 10.3390/app13116484.
51. M. Rahimi, H. Liu, I. Durazo Cardenas, A. Starr, A. Hall, and R. O. Anderson, “A Review on Technologies for Localisation and Navigation in Autonomous Railway Maintenance Systems,” Sensors, vol. 22, no. 11, p. 4185, 2022, doi: 10.3390/s22114185.
52. J. Kasch and M. Ahmadian, “Design and Operational Assessment of a Railroad Track Robot for Railcar Undercarriage Condition Inspection,” Designs, vol. 8, no. 4, p. 70, 2024, doi: 10.3390/designs8040070.
53. M. Molzon and M. Ahmadian, “Development of a Mobile Robot System for the Visual Inspection of Railcar Undercarriage Equipment,” in Proceedings of the 2022 Joint Rail Conference, 2022, doi: 10.1115/JRC2022-79739.
54. P. Singh et al., “Deployment of Autonomous Trains in Rail Transportation: Current Trends and Existing Challenges,” IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 87979-88002, 2021, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3091550.
55. S. Müller, “Autonomous trains in freight transport: should the railway not have the advantage over the trucks?,” WIT Transactions on the Built Environment, vol. 199, pp. 111-122, 2020, doi: 10.2495/CR200011.
56. R. K. W. Vithanage, C. S. Harrison, and A. Desilva, “A Study on Automating Rolling-stock Maintenanceinthe Rail Industryusing Robotics,” inProceedings ofthe 9th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence, 2017, pp. 278-283, doi: 10.5220/0006410702780283.
57. M. Wild, J. S. Becker, G. Ehmen, and E. Möhlmann, “Towards Scenario-Based Certification of Highly Automated Railway Systems,” in Formal Methods for Industrial Critical Systems, 2023, pp. 81-98, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-43366-5_5.
58. M. Seisenberger et al., “Safe and Secure Future AI-Driven Railway Technologies: Challenges for Formal Methods in Railway,” in Formal Methods for Industrial Critical Systems, 2022, pp. 325-343, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-19762-8_20.
59. F. Flammini, L. De Donato, A. Fantechi, and V. Vittorini, “A Vision of Intelligent Train Control,” in Formal Methods for Industrial Critical Systems, 2022, pp. 239-254, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-05814-1_14.
60. G. M. Tretiakov, N. N. Mazko, and A. V. Varlamov, “The use of machine learning technologies to automate the planning and management of freight transportation on the railway,” Sovremennye naukoëmkie tehnologii, no. 11, 2023, doi: 10.17513/snt.39977.
61. A. N. Shabelnikov, “Railway Sorting Robotics,” in Proceedings of the International Scientific Siberian Transport Forum, 2019, pp. 683-692, doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-50097-9_63.
62. J. Yin et al., “Research and development of automatic train operation for railway transportation systems: A survey,” Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, vol. 85, pp. 548-572, 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.trc.2017.09.009.
63. D. Golightly et al., “Human, Organisational and Societal Factors in Robotic Rail Infrastructure Maintenance,” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 4, p. 2123, 2022, doi: 10.3390/su14042123.
64. P. Singh et al., “Deployment of Autonomous Trains in Rail Transportation: Addressing the Needs for Higher Education and Leadership,” in Lecture Notes in Mobility, 2024, pp. 85-100, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-51745-7_7.
Review
For citations:
Dolgy A.I., Hatlamadzhiyan A.E., Ozerov A.V., Bochkov A.V. Robotization in railway transport. Intelligent transport. 2025;(3(35)):4-32. (In Russ.)
JATS XML




