Will AI replace train drivers?
Updated
Locomotive engineers score 22 of 100 for AI exposure. 85% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 7% today and speed up another 8%.
- 7% AI can do it
- 8% AI helps
- 85% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 76% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 14 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 1 of them today, speeds up 1 and leaves 12 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Prepare reports regarding any problems encountered, such as accidents, signaling problems, unscheduled stops, or delays. Drafting problem reports from notes is routine writing; engineer reviews. | 65% AI can do it |
| Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives. LLMs can parse rulebooks and explain orders; engineer stays accountable. | 50% AI helps |
| Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains. Live radio exchanges with crews and dispatchers need a person. | 15% Needs a person |
| Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs. Gauge monitoring is in-cab and sensor-driven with little AI help. | 15% Needs a person |
| Check to ensure that documentation, such as procedure manuals or logbooks, are in the driver's cab and available for staff use. Confirming documents are physically in the cab needs on-site presence. | 12% Needs a person |
| Observe tracks to detect obstructions. Real-time visual lookout from the cab; vision AI assistance is limited. | 10% Needs a person |
| Call out train signals to assistants to verify meanings. Verbal cab callouts are live, physical and safety-bound. | 10% Needs a person |
| Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules. Emergency response needs physical presence and accountable live judgment. | 10% Needs a person |
| Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems. Walkaround physical checks of fuel, sand, water and mechanics. | 10% Needs a person |
| Inspect locomotives after runs to detect damaged or defective equipment. Physical equipment checks after runs need hands-on inspection. | 10% Needs a person |
Show the other 4 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Monitor train loading procedures to ensure that freight or rolling stock are loaded or unloaded without damage. Watching physical loading and cargo condition needs on-site presence. | 10% Needs a person |
| Receive starting signals from conductors and use controls such as throttles or air brakes to drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas turbine-electric locomotives. Responding to starting signals and running controls is hands-on work. | 8% Needs a person |
| Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards. Hands-on operation of locomotives has no current AI substitute. | 5% Needs a person |
| Check to ensure that brake examination tests are conducted at shunting stations. Brake tests require physical inspection at the equipment. | 5% Needs a person |
How locomotive engineers compare
All occupations (923)
Transportation and material moving (52)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $81,410 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 33,470 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +0.5% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Operate freight and passenger locomotives between stations and rail yards
- Run train movements and records in Electronic train management systems ETMS
- Check AI-drafted incident reports line by line in Microsoft Word
- Track delay and unscheduled stop patterns in Microsoft Excel
- Plan and verify routes in route mapping software
- Hold a valid locomotive engineer certification under FRA Part 240
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about locomotive engineers and AI
Will train drivers be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 2 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly drafting problem reports and interpreting train orders and railroad rules. Radio calls with conductors and dispatchers, gauge checks, track lookout and the actual running of the train stay with the engineer.
Will AI take over train drivers?
AI can already do 7% of the task time in train drivers and speeds up another 8%. People still do 85% of it. The US has 33,470 locomotive engineer jobs, with a projected change of +0.5% from 2024 to 2034.
Which tasks is AI taking over for locomotive engineers?
AI is taking over the drafting of reports on accidents, signaling problems, unscheduled stops and delays, with an exposure score of 65, because it is routine writing from notes. It also parses rulebooks and explains train orders, scored 50, though the engineer still signs for each decision.
Which tasks stay human for locomotive engineers?
Operating locomotives between stations and assembling trains stays human, with an exposure score of 5, because hands-on control has no current AI substitute. Emergency response scores 10 and needs a person on site making live safety calls, and radio exchanges with conductors score 15 for the same reason.
How can locomotive engineers stay valuable?
Build fluency in the systems that record each run, starting with Electronic train management systems ETMS, so entries match what happened in the cab. Check AI-drafted incident reports line by line in Microsoft Word, track delay patterns in Microsoft Excel, and keep time tracking software and route mapping software current before each shift.
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