The rail industry is adapting to emerging technologies, resilience challenges, and increasing demands on aging infrastructure. At the 2026 American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Annual Conference, VHB rail professionals connected with peers from across North America and shared perspectives on the trends shaping the future of rail transportation.
Technology Is Expanding What Rail Owners Can See and Do
Artificial intelligence (AI), LiDAR, and digital mapping were recurring themes. Ravi Amin, Director of Transit and Rail Engineering, noted that AI holds promise for data analysis and infrastructure assessment, but its effectiveness depends on reliable, accessible source material. Because much of the rail industry's specialized knowledge has historically been shared through technical references and practitioner experience, continued digitization and documentation will be essential to responsible AI use.
“AI has tremendous potential, but the rail industry is still working to make more of its technical knowledge accessible and digitally searchable to support educating incoming professionals,” said Ravi. “As we continue documenting and sharing that knowledge, these tools can become more valuable to support engineering and planning decisions.”
Conference discussions also demonstrated the value of LiDAR during recovery from Hurricane Helene. Having an accurate digital baseline helped one railroad compare pre-storm and post-storm conditions and make informed decisions as it restored damaged infrastructure. The example underscored how current digital mapping can support emergency response, resilience planning, and long-term asset management.
Passenger Rail Experience Enriches Industry Education
Caroline Lucas, Transit & Rail Engineer, served as an instructor for AREMA's Track Alignment Design Seminar, teaching modules on mainline track design, establishing existing alignments, and signal considerations. Drawing on passenger rail and transit work, she expanded the discussion beyond traditional freight applications to address dense infrastructure, accessibility requirements, and technologies such as communications-based train control.
“It was valuable to share lessons from passenger rail and transit projects, where system density, accessibility requirements, and operational demands often create a different design environment,” said Caroline.
Connection Strengthens the Industry
Beyond the technical sessions, AREMA created opportunities to exchange ideas and build relationships with rail owners, transit agencies, consultants, contractors, and suppliers. For our team, the conference reinforced the value of sharing knowledge across disciplines and helping clients navigate the technologies, risks, and opportunities shaping the rail industry.
Learn more about VHB’s transit & rail work.
