To increase the safety and reliability of its trains and railways, railroads have integrated computer controlled information management systems. Some have even moved to satellite tracking. With each upgrade, however, the railroads struggle with the inherent difficulties of automating an old infrastructure.

The need for automation is significant. To run an efficient railroad, the company must monitor each locomotive, car, maintenance crew member, train crew member, passenger, railway switch, crossroad signal, and piece of cargo. It even needs to monitor bad weather.

From Telegraphs to Satellites

In 1851 the railroads discovered that the newly invented telegraph gave engineers and train station operators a new ability to communicate among themselves. For the first time, the arrival and departure of trains could be coordinated safely, which was especially important when multiple trains shared a single track. Later, when the telephone was invented, train management improved even more...