Frequently Asked Questions
The Problem
What is the problem?
125,000 at-grade rail crossings in the U.S. cause frequent, prolonged closures—disrupting traffic, delaying emergency response, and frustrating drivers.
Why aren’t railroads fixing this?
Railroads lack real-time data and visibility on blocked crossings; without incentives or regulatory pressure, the issue persists.
Railroads
Are trains on a schedule?
Some trains are scheduled, but freight schedules are often unavailable to the public and not always reliable. Oculus Rail delivers real-time delay data unavailable elsewhere.
Oculus Rail Sensors
Do sensors work at night or in bad weather?
Yes; sensors are designed to function in all weather and lighting conditions, with real-time quality control.
How does your technology work?
Our computer-vision sensors are solar-powered and mounted in the public right-of-way near rail crossings to collect data on the status of the crossing. They wirelessly transmit data to the cloud. This information is then sent to the Oculus Rail app and municipal dashboard.
Will this move the train?
WE WISH! While this data does not immediately move the train, it is a step in the right direction by providing actionable data to cities, motorists, and railroads. Knowledge is power and this is a great place to start.
“Our goal isn’t to stop trains from using the crossings — it’s to stop the crossings from stopping us.”
Installation
How quickly can you deploy sensors?
Our solar-powered, wireless design enables rapid deployment in the public right of way, without the need for railroad permission or telecommunications wiring.
Where are sensors installed?
Sensors are placed in the public right-of-way, not on railroad property—no railroad approval needed.
The App
How do I add a crossing to My Crossings?
Follow these steps:
✓ Navigate to the crossing you want to favorite.
✓ Click into the location.
✓ Click on the heart icon. It should now be red.
✓ Navigate to the My Crossings tab. You should now see the crossing listed on this
Why am I not receiving notifications?
Check your settings by following these steps:
✓ Navigate to the crossing from which you want to receive notifications.
✓ Click into the location.
✓ Click on the bell icon. It should now be yellow.
✓ Navigate to the Settings tabpage.
✓ Toggle the timeframe(s) during which you want to receive these notifications.
Are blocked crossings shown in WAZE or Google Maps?
Not yet, but integration is absolutely a future goal.
Can you provide advance notice of trains or expected delays?
Not currently, but planned for future updates.
Are crossings available nationwide?
We’re expanding; let us know if you want Oculus Rail in your area, and contact local officials to request it.
How does Oculus Rail reduce traffic delays?
The app notifies drivers of blocked crossings so they can reroute in real time.
Data
What data do you provide to municipalities?
Real-time and historical blocked crossing data, time-stamped images, and downloadable (Excel, JSON, CSV) reports for transportation and public safety teams.
How does the subscription work?
Subscribers (e.g., municipalities, DOTs, railroads) receive access to a custom dashboard with downloadable data and reports for selected crossings.
Emergency Services
How does this help emergency responders?
Our data can be integrated within city systems to expedite emergency routing; use of the mobile app can also enable public safety officials to respond faster.
Geography
What’s your current deployment status?
40 sensors deployed across four Virginia cities; national launch planned for Q4 2025; app and dashboard live.
Why isn’t my city listed?
Only cities with Oculus Rail contracts appear in the app. Contact your local officials to request coverage.
Why are some crossings not included?
Cities subscribe to specific crossings; to add more, request your city officials to subscribe to those crossings.
Cost
Who pays for the service?
The app is free for drivers; municipalities pay an annual fee for selected crossings and access to detailed dashboards.
Privacy
What about data privacy and safety?
Our focus is on train movement and crossing status. You can read our full Privacy Policy here.