The adoption of predictive maintenance schemes based on artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) will be fundamental to preventing failures, strengthening operational safety, optimizing spending on railway infrastructure and bolstering Mexico’s logistical competitiveness, said Tomás Allen, commercial vice president of Fracttal , a company specializing in the digital maintenance of equipment and physical assets.
“The rail infrastructure of the future cannot be managed solely through periodic inspections and manual reports. As the complexity of networks increases, the ability to anticipate failures using artificial intelligence will be a requirement to guarantee service continuity and the safety of millions of users,” Allen said.
Predictive maintenance combines IoT-connected sensors, cloud platforms, and AI algorithms capable of continuously monitoring the condition of tracks, turnouts, brakes, electrical equipment, and other critical assets.
With this information, it is possible to identify wear patterns , prioritize interventions, and reduce unscheduled downtime before it evolves into major failures, the specialist pointed out.
For the railway sector, this technological evolution also represents a financial decision , as various international operators have incorporated predictive maintenance strategies to improve the availability of their assets, reduce repair costs and strengthen operational safety, relying on advanced analytics and AI to process information generated by sensors installed in the infrastructure in this transport.
In Mexico, Tomás Allen pointed out, the challenge takes on a strategic dimension, since the federal government plans to build at least 2,377 kilometers of new railway lines during the six-year term , in addition to strengthening the Interoceanic Train and other railway systems.
“ In railway infrastructure, the cost of an unplanned failure is often several times the cost of a preventive intervention , considering operational disruptions, logistical impacts, asset repairs and safety risks,” Allen emphasized.
In addition to passenger transport, modernizing maintenance will be a key element in strengthening the country’s logistical competitiveness , since, he stated, a more reliable infrastructure favors the continuity of freight transport, reduces downtime and improves the use of public and private investments in a context where the railway is regaining prominence within supply chains.
Therefore, with the new generation of railway projects under development, he considered that the digitization of maintenance will cease to be a complementary tool and become an essential component of the operation.
Incorporating technologies, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence from the early stages will protect long-term investments, strengthen operational security, and increase the resilience of an infrastructure that will be crucial for Mexico’s mobility and economic competitiveness.
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