July 10, 2026 - TRA Newswire  -

A recently restored short line railroad in Central Texas has debuted new rail safety technology that keeps trains on track and identifies any abnormal conditions in real time. Track inspection technologies play an important role in preventing derailments and enabling data-driven maintenance planning.

OmniTRAX, which is one of North America’s fastest growing privately held rail management companies, has installed the new rail safety technology on its recently acquired affiliate, Central Texas and Colorado River Railway (CTXR).

The track monitoring software marks OmniTRAX’s first use in Texas. The system, from Holland L.P., Argus Track Measurement Technology, continuously measures track conditions and identifies any abnormalities in real time.

CTXR’s newly restored operations span 48 miles in the heart of Central Texas, and provides active freight rail service and BNSF Railway connections in Lometa, Texas. The line mostly parallels US 190 from Lometa, west past San Saba, with another 18 miles yet inactive to Brady, Texas.  

“Argus allows us to monitor track conditions in real time with each train movement, enhancing our industry-leading service reliability and rail delivery,” said OmniTRAX President and COO Sergio Sabatini. “We are deeply committed to the safety of our employees, customers, and the communities we serve, and this technology is a great investment in our collective operational safety.”

OmniTRAX’s renewed service to the Central Texas region has generated a surge of new customer interest in rail shipping, according to CTXR. The technology helps the railroad operate its expanding freight volumes by minimizing service interruptions and optimizing reliability.

“Bringing autonomous track inspection to the CTXR is an exciting milestone for the Holland team.” said Holland General Manager, RMSS, Erik Curran. “OmniTRAX and CTXR share our commitment to innovation, safety, and operational excellence. By working together, our advanced autonomous inspection technology is providing CTXR continuous infrastructure insights that enhance safety and operational reliability along the entire line.”

OmniTRAX operates 35 railroads, serving ports and industrial parks across the country and is the largest private, family-owned short line holding company in North America. 

The company has three key short-line railways and logistics networks in Texas: the Central Texas & Colorado River Railway, the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, and the Panhandle Northern Railroad.