DB Cargo has introduced AI-supported freight wagon inspection at eight large marshalling yards in Germany, covering locations that handle more than 10,000 wagons per day. The technology is integrated with existing camera gantries, which record high-resolution images of passing trains and feed them into an automated analysis system.
The camera bridges are equipped with high-speed cameras and lighting systems that allow the AI to detect visible damage and technical anomalies on wagons. In total, 13 such gantries are in operation across the network. According to the operator, the system enables faster identification of defects and more targeted handling of wagons during train formation.
In a further step, the AI now also captures and interprets key wagon markings and technical data in real time, including tare weight, braking information and loading dimensions. These parameters previously required manual verification when inconsistencies occurred. Automating this process is intended to shorten preparation times and reduce the workload for yard staff.
The project is supported by Germany’s federal programme for the future of rail freight and forms part of DB Cargo’s wider digitalisation and automation roadmap. The operator says faster wagon availability and more reliable data processing are expected to improve network productivity, particularly in cross-border freight operations.
