American Train Dispatchers Association Files Safety Complaint with FRA About Critical BNSF Dispatcher Software Failure

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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The ADA has asked the FRA for an immediate federal investigation of a serious software failure that occurred in Wabtec's dispatching systems used by BNSF.

The ATDA reports that on June 16, 2026, an incident occurred near Connell, Washington, “in which multiple dispatching software programs, including AutoRouter, Movement Planner, and the Train Management Dispatch System (TMDS), failed by authorizing a train to enter track that was already occupied by a roadway worker operating under valid dispatcher-issued track authority protection.”

The ADTA went on to say that “the dispatcher observed the software error and successfully stopped the train before it entered the occupied track. The Dispatcher’s actions prevented what could have been a catastrophic accident involving a designated Key Train carrying hazardous materials.”

Further, the train was designated as a “Key Train” because it included 20+ cars carrying hazardous materials. The train included 146 cars, was approximately 9,500 ft. long, and weighed about 6,500 tons.

Ed Dowell, President of the ATDA, said, “This incident should serve as a wake-up call for the entire railroad industry. Technology should provide an additional layer of safety, not create new hazards that dispatchers must overcome in real time. The professionalism and vigilance of one dispatcher prevented what could have been a tragedy and serves as a reminder that technology is no replacement for our highly skilled members.”

The ATDA is particularly concerned about the statement in its complaint to the FRA that “BNSF knew of the system vulnerability for approximately one year prior to the incident, and that the software vendor, Wabtec, initially estimated that it would take approximately 14 months to correct.”

Dowell said that, “If defects capable of producing this type of failure are known but remain in service, that raises serious questions about risk management and regulatory oversight. Railroad employees and the public deserve confidence that safety-critical technology has been thoroughly tested before it is deployed.”

You can learn more details in the ATDA press release, found here.

RT&S has reached out to both BNSF and Wabtec for comment.