Wabtec Demonstrated RailGhost Inspection Robot
The rail-bound autonomous platform automates under-train inspections to replace manual brake checks.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Robotics
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Wabtec showcased its RailGhost inspection platform, a robotic system designed to navigate beneath train formations. The project, which has undergone three iterations, is currently in the testing phase at the MxV Rail facility in Pueblo.
Why it matters
By automating inspections of hard-to-reach underframe areas, the platform aims to shift workflows away from manual human checks. The technology represents a move toward increased autonomous maintenance and asset monitoring for the freight rail industry.
The RailGhost platform employs a combination of LiDAR, onboard cameras, and sensors to navigate beneath rail cars. It utilizes retractable wheels to clear wheelsets and includes a specialized turtle mode for steady, stationary operation atop track ballast.
The players
Wabtec
A provider of equipment and services for the global freight and transit rail industry that operates the Forgeworks incubator to accelerate technology development.
MxV Rail
A railroad research and testing facility located in Pueblo that provides the physical infrastructure for testing and validating new rail technologies.
The details
The platform functions by traversing the rail environment directly beneath train formations, granting access to obscured inter-wagon and underframe spaces. Its navigation system relies on LiDAR (a remote sensing method using light pulses to map distances) and sensors to identify obstacles, automatically managing wheel retraction to bypass mechanical obstructions. The system is designed to keep human operators in the loop while delegating the repetitive physical movement required for under-car inspections.
Timeline
2026: Wabtec demonstrated the RailGhost platform at InnoTrans.
The Tech Race
The development of RailGhost follows the internal innovation model established by the Forgeworks incubator. It places Wabtec in a competitive position to lead the integration of autonomous diagnostics into standard freight maintenance cycles.
Freight rail operations will see initial impact through the replacement of manual brake checks with robotic inspection. The platform is currently limited to testing environments at the MxV Rail facility, with future plans to expand into broader asset condition assessment.
The takeaway
The transition from manual to robotic under-train inspection marks a critical shift toward digital infrastructure management. Interested parties should monitor upcoming technical reports from the Pueblo testing facility for benchmarks regarding operational reliability and inspection speed.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in industrial automation on our Robotics page.
Live Poll
Do you trust robotic systems to perform safety inspections as reliably as human workers?
