Waymo restricts some routes after near miss with Texas train

Viral video shows Waymo vehicle stopping inside railroad crossing as train passes

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Waymo, the autonomous driving company, is temporarily restricting some of its routes in Texas after a viral video showed one of its vehicles narrowly avoiding a collision with a train at a railroad crossing in Austin. The video shows the Waymo car stopping inside the crossing gate as the CapMetro train passed by. Waymo says the vehicle stopped over 8 feet before the tracks, but the company is reviewing the incident and implementing temporary mitigation measures while it investigates further.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles at railroad crossings and Waymo's ability to properly navigate these high-risk situations. It also comes at a time when Waymo and other self-driving companies are working to build public trust in the technology.

The details

The video, which circulated on social media, was taken at a crossing on East Koenig Lane in Austin, just before Airport Boulevard. It shows the Waymo vehicle stopping inside the crossing gate as the CapMetro train passes by. Waymo says the car stopped over 8 feet before the tracks, after the crossing lights activated, and determined it was a safe distance. However, the company recognizes the concern caused by stopping past the crossing gate and is temporarily restricting traversals at similar crossings while it reviews the event and refines its system's response.

  • The viral video was taken on March 10, 2026.

The players

Waymo

An autonomous driving company and a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

CapMetro

The public transportation agency serving the Austin, Texas metropolitan area.

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What they’re saying

“Waymo vehicles have safely traversed railroad crossings millions of times fully autonomously. In these instances, the vehicles performed a controlled stop more than 2.5 meters before the tracks, after the crossing lights activated as the vehicles approached the crossing.”

— Waymo (fox61.com)

“We are aware of the video circulating depicting a Waymo vehicle at a CapMetro rail crossing. Our teams are currently reviewing the data and gathering information to complete a full assessment of the event. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.”

— CapMetro, spokesperson (fox61.com)

What’s next

Waymo says it has implemented temporary mitigation measures with strict parameters while it investigates the incident further.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges autonomous vehicles face in navigating complex infrastructure like railroad crossings, and the importance of Waymo and other self-driving companies continuing to refine their systems to ensure the safety of both passengers and the public.