YardGUARD™
Safety Intelligence for the Yard
YardGUARD is Railserve’s integrated railyard safety system — built from six interconnected components that work together across critical zones. It connects key safeguards into a real-time safety intelligence network that helps teams verify conditions, identify risk sooner, and act with confidence during active moves — delivering safer, more consistent yard performance.
Railserve. What the Yard Needs.
YardGUARD — An Integrated System — Built to Work Together
YardGUARD solves the yard’s biggest safety problems with solution-built technologies — and then unifies them into one coordinated system embedded in Railserve’s offering. That’s what makes YardGUARD different: safeguards are designed to work together across the yard’s highest-risk zones, turning critical conditions into consistent, actionable safety intelligence. The result is clearer confirmation before a move, stronger discipline during execution, and fewer disruptions when conditions change fast.
See how YardGUARD is used across the railyard — use our interactive railyard map
Built for the Way Crews Work
Railserve crews bring disciplined expertise to every move. YardGUARD strengthens that execution — bridging the gap where human error can enter by making conditions clearer in the moment and reinforcing move-by-move operating discipline.
One coordinated system
YardGUARD’s interconnected components work as one coordinated system across critical zones — so safeguards work together yard-wide.
One shared real-time view – where decisions happen
YardGUARD brings system inputs into one shared real-time view so operators, crews, and leaders can work from the same picture and coordinate decisions in the moment.
Beyond radio – see what the crew sees
YardGUARD adds real-time crew-worn camera views so operators can see what the crew sees—reducing reliance on radio-only communication during critical moves.
Multi-layered verification
YardGUARD reinforces move-by-move operating discipline with multiple layers (yard-side indication plus in-cab status) of go/no-go confirmation in the moment.
Ready for the unexpected
YardGUARD provides in-the-moment alerts during active moves — supporting rapid response, including automatic intervention in defined scenarios—to help prevent incidents and avoid yard disruption
All-conditions awareness
YardGUARD maintains continuous awareness and decision support — even in low light, adverse weather, and fast-changing conditions
What Powers YardGUARD
YardGUARD’s safety intelligence is powered by layered technologies working together—so the right alerts reach the right people during active moves, when decisions matter most. It combines sensing and vision inputs, location awareness, resilient communications, and cloud-backed system monitoring to help teams verify conditions, identify risk sooner, and act with confidence.
Built for real yard conditions. Rugged technologies, redundant communications, and cloud-backed monitoring help YardGUARD deliver consistent alerts and decision support in low light, adverse weather, and fast-changing conditions.
Detection + Sensing
- Detecting & sensing technology tracks key status points across critical zones
- Vision technology and cameras provide real-time awareness when line-of-sight is limited
- GPS/location context strengthens clarity around where conditions are changing
Operator Experience
- In-cab display brings inputs together into the shared real-time view
- Augmented-reality style overlays can superimpose digital alerts onto the yard layout
Resilient Communications
- Multiple communication paths help keep alerts flowing even when one path is limited
- Supports in-the-moment alerts during active moves and faster coordination
Cloud-backed System Health
- A cloud network monitors component connectivity and status to confirm devices are active and operating as expected
- Helps maintain consistent performance and supports quicker troubleshooting across sites
Built Around the Yard’s Highest-risk Zones
Every yard has a unique layout and operating rhythm. Configured to each yard footprint, YardGUARD brings coordinated safeguards to the areas that matter most for that site — supporting move-by-move operating discipline and more consistent performance during active moves.
- Crossings
- Shove Moves
- Foul Zones and Turnouts
- Switch Alignment Points & Gaps
- Derails
- Crew Emergency/Person-down Scenarios
Six Components — One Integrated System
Six components address different risk points across the yard. Together, they work as one integrated system — turning yard status and hazards into real-time safety intelligence where decisions happen.
CrossingGUARD
High-visibility control that keeps yard crossings coordinated and safe.
DerailGUARD
Multi-layered confirmation of derail status with activation of emergency braking as needed.
FoulGUARD
Foul-zone clearance visibility that reinforces operating discipline and helps prevent sideswipes.
GapGUARD
Switch alignment/gap awareness that confirms status before a move proceeds.
StopGUARD
Automated emergency braking and crew awareness support when seconds matter.
WatchGUARD
In-cab hazard and alignment monitoring that improves visibility and activates emergency braking as needed.
Safety Intelligence in Action
See how YardGUARD supports safer moves during real yard moments—turning system signals into in-the-moment alerts and clearer decisions during active moves. These examples show what the operator and crew see, and the outcome it enables.
Scenario 1: Low-Visibility Hazard Ahead
In fog, rain, or night conditions, operators often have limited line-of-sight and must rely on radio calls and experience to anticipate what’s ahead. YardGUARD strengthens “eyes-ahead” awareness by bringing hazard and alignment alerts into the in-cab system view—so the operator can confirm conditions earlier and commit with greater confidence. Where configured, the system can support automatic braking/stop for obstruction & switch misalignment scenarios, helping prevent impact and reduce disruption when seconds matter.
Outcome: fewer missed cues, steadier flow, and safer execution in low visibility.
Scenario 2: Turnout & Clearance Confirmation Before a Move
Before a move proceeds through a turnout or alongside adjacent tracks, teams need confidence that switch alignment and clearance conditions are right. YardGUARD supports move-by-move operating discipline with two-way confirmation: a clear yard-side indication paired with in-cab status for go/no-go decisions. With switch alignment/gap status (GapGUARD) and foul-zone/adjacent-track status (FoulGUARD) delivered into the shared operational picture, operators and crews can work from the same information—reducing uncertainty and avoiding preventable delays.
Outcome: fewer stop-and-check slowdowns, reduced sideswipe/derailment exposure, and more consistent execution near turnouts.
Scenario 3: Derail Status Confirmed Before Entry
Engaged derails can be missed—especially at night, in poor weather, or during high-tempo operations—leading to damage, downtime, and disruption. DerailGUARD makes derail status unmistakable at a glance with a highly visible yard-side signal, while simultaneously providing an on-screen alert on the YardGUARD in-cab display. This layered confirmation helps crews and operators confirm conditions before a move and reinforces disciplined execution at one of the yard’s highest-consequence decision points.
Outcome: fewer derail-related incidents and fewer operational interruptions from preventable misses.
Scenario 4: Critical Shove Move With Crew Visibility + Immediate Action
During shove moves and complex switching, blind spots and radio-only communication can increase risk. YardGUARD adds real-time crew visibility by streaming crew-worn camera video to the in-cab display, so the operator can see what the crew sees and coordinate with greater confidence. If conditions change suddenly, StopGUARD supports immediate action—including rapid stop capability, and in defined man-down scenarios, automatic stop activation—to help prevent harm and reduce the disruption that follows serious incidents.
Outcome: clearer coordination, fewer close calls, and stronger protection when seconds matter.
Better Service — Because Safety Intelligence is Built In
This is how Railserve is revolutionizing industrial switching services—building safety intelligence into day-to-day service delivery and making safety tangible in the moments that matter. With YardGUARD embedded in how we operate, Railserve delivers safer, more consistent execution across sites—keeping people safe and operations running.