Keep the
terminal moving.
Ports and intermodal terminals depend on coordinated movement across a complex operating environment. Advanced Rail Systems brings switching, control and integration together to help crews move efficiently, maintain visibility and reduce unnecessary manual work in the yard.
From individual switch automation to centralized yard control, we configure the system around your terminal, your workflow and the infrastructure already in place.
Connected yard systems built around high-volume operations.
Built Around the Flow of Your Terminal
Rail movements inside a port or intermodal terminal are part of a much larger operation. Trains, switching crews, terminal equipment and downstream processes all depend on cars getting where they need to go.
ARS looks beyond the individual switch to understand how rail moves through the facility. We identify where manual processes, limited visibility or control constraints are creating friction and build the system around improving that flow.
The goal isn't automation for its own sake. It's giving your people better control of the infrastructure they depend on to keep the terminal moving.
Because every unnecessary stop affects what comes next.
A better-connected yard.
Bring switching, control + visibility together.
Terminal rail yards often have switches spread across a large footprint, and multiple operating areas/crews performing different functions simultaneously.
ARS works to connect those individual points of operation into a more coordinated system. Switch machines, field controls, communications, indication and centralized Pathfinder control can be configured around the level of connectivity the terminal actually needs.
That gives your operation the ability to:
Automate high-use or operationally critical switches
Reduce unnecessary manual switch handling
Give authorized crews appropriate control in the field
Provide clear switch-position and equipment status
Centralize control and visibility where it adds value
Integrate with existing terminal infrastructure
Expand the system as operations change
Solutions for Ports + Intermodal Terminals
From individual switch automation to coordinated yard control, ARS provides the field equipment, controls and integration needed to connect rail movements across the terminal.
Build around the operational priorities of the facility — not a predetermined system architecture.
Dependable Automatic Switching
Keep freight moving.
The YM-16 provides closed-loop electro-hydraulic operation, direct-drive mechanics and positive position verification in a low-profile, field-serviceable design.
For busy terminal environments, automatic switching can reduce repeated manual switch handling while giving operators positive confirmation of switch position. Individual machines can operate independently or become part of a coordinated control system spanning multiple areas of the terminal.
Control Where the Work Happens
Give authorized crews the right control for the application.
Different areas of a terminal may call for different methods of control. ARS supports push-button controls, DTMF radio operation and browser-based Pathfinder control, allowing the control method to fit the people and processes already operating in the facility.
Crews can have straightforward access where local control makes sense, while higher-level systems can provide centralized control and visibility across more complex operations.
The result is a connected system using controls and communication that fits your yard.
Flexible System Integration
Connect operator commands, field equipment + existing terminal systems.
The ARMMI Programmable Processor provides the interface between operator controls and switch machines. It receives commands, applies configured control logic, operates connected equipment and returns status to the operator or higher-level control system.
ARMMI can support an individual switch, coordinate multiple field assets or connect ARS equipment with existing yard control systems — making it possible to modernize targeted areas while preserving infrastructure and operating platforms already in place.
Power + Indication
Support reliable operation across the terminal.
ARS can configure power around the requirements of your site, including solar, battery and super capacitor options where appropriate or desired.
LED switch-position indicators and reflective targets provide clear visual confirmation in the field, helping crews quickly understand switch position as they move through the facility.
Move more freight through your existing yard’s footprint.
Improve throughput by removing friction from rail movements.
Terminal capacity isn't determined by acreage alone. How efficiently crews can route and move equipment through the existing infrastructure matters too.
Switch automation and connected control can reduce the small delays that accumulate across repeated yard movements and give crews better tools for managing a busy terminal.
Reduce manual switch handling — Eliminate unnecessary stops and repeated trips to line switches by hand.
Keep crews moving — Allow authorized operators to control switches from the appropriate location for the operation.
Improve visibility — Give operators clear indication of switch position and equipment status.
Coordinate movements — Connect individual field assets into a broader control system where centralized management creates value.
Improve safety — Reduce unnecessary crew exposure around track and moving equipment.
Use existing infrastructure more effectively — Improve the flow of rail traffic through the terminal before assuming additional physical capacity is the answer.
Adapt as operations change — Add switches, controls and system capabilities as volumes, layouts and workflows evolve.
Better control of the yard can unlock more from the infrastructure you already have.
Start with the bottleneck.
Tell us where rail movements slow down, crews lose time, manual switching creates unnecessary work or limited visibility makes the operation harder to coordinate.
We'll work with your team to understand the terminal & determine the right combination of switching, controls, connectivity, power & indication for the application.