Rail automation news
News about railway and urban transport automation projects and technology.
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NewsTram tunnel firefighting robot unveiled
GERMANY: Austrian company Rosenbauer and Augsburg fire service have unveiled a prototype firefighting robot for use in the tram tunnel now being completed under the city’s main railway station.
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In depthResearch: AŽD Praha's autonomous train is on track
Following successful passenger carrying trials with its prototype autonomous train on the Kopidlnka line, AŽD Praha is looking to optimise the technology for commercial operations to start in 2029. Chris Jackson reports from Dětenice.
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NewsEcoTrain launched to target very light rail opportunities in France and Belgium
FRANCE: Dynamic testing of a lightweight trainset for secondary lines is underway follwing the unveiling of the EcoTrain.
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In depthAustralia: Melbourne’s Suburban Loop reaches lift-off
Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop is ultimately expected to add 90 km of 1 435 mm gauge automated rail service to the city’s rail mix, but project promoter SRLA is currently focusing on delivering the first 26 km section. Benjámin Zelki reports.
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NewsRobot dog checks freight trains for defects
LITHUANIA: The national railway’s freight business LTG Cargo is testing the use of a robot dog which autonomously walks around a train and uses artificial intelligence to search for wagon faults.
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NewsDB InfraGO embraces artifical intelligence to support train dispatchers
GERMANY: Infrastructure manager DB InfraGO is rolling out an AI assistance tool for its dispatchers, with the aim of developing a fully digitalised decision-making workflow to improve regulation of trains on busy routes by 2027.
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NewsStadler to supply CBTC for Swiss mountain railway
SWITZERLAND: Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera has awarded Stadler a contract to equip the Montreux – Les Rochers-de-Naye mountain railway with its Nova Pro communications-based train control system.
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NewsAutomated freight train trial begins on the Betuwe Route
NETHERLANDS: A one-year trial of automatic train operation has started on the Betuwe Route freight corridor.
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NewsParis metro fleet renewal reaches milestone as first MF19 trainset enters traffic
FRANCE: The first of up to 410 next-generation trainsets worth €3bn has entered service on Paris metro Line 10. Jérémie Anne reports.
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NewsTrenord launches Trainscanner rolling stock inspection tool
ITALY: Regional operator Trenord and MerMec have introduced a health and diagnostic tool known as Trainscanner.
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In depthInfrastructure: Scour monitoring helps to bridge the gap
Field trials are currently under way with an AI-assisted real-time monitoring system able to detect the emergence of scour that could undermine the safety of railway bridges over flowing water.
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NewsMelbourne Suburban Loop rail systems preferred bidder confirmed
AUSTRALIA: Detailed negotiations are under way with preferred bidder TransitLinX consortium for the Linewide contract package covering rolling stock, fit out and 15-year operations of Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop East.
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NewsWatco to deploy TugVolt autonomous self-propelled wagons
USA: Short line railway, terminal and port operating group Watco has reached a commercial agreement to deploy Intramotev’s TugVolt autonomous self-propelled wagon battery-electric wagons on its network.
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NewsNingbo metro Line 7 opens with GoA4 automation
CHINA: Ningbo metro Line 7 has opened, adding 39·4 km of fully-automated line connecting the northern and southeastern districts of the city.
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In depthTrain control: PTC 2.0 could offer an alternative to ‘unaffordable’ ETCS
With its planned acquisition of Frauscher Sensortechnik, Wabtec is pushing further into the train control market, and it hopes its PTC 2.0 concept could offer a lower-cost alternative to ETCS for railways around the world. President of Wabtec’s Digital Intelligence business Nalin Jain explained the thinking to Nick Kingsley.
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NewsDriverless tram enters passenger service
RUSSIA: A fully automated driverless tram has entered regular passenger service in Moskva, following a multi-stage testing programme.
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Metro Report InternationalMumbai Metro Line 4 signalling and rolling stock contract awarded
INDIA: Mumbai Metro Regional Development Authority has awarded Larsen & Toubro and its partner Alstom the rolling stock and signalling systems contract for Mumbai Metro Line 4 (Green).
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Metro Report InternationalSiemens to convert Paris metro Line 13 to driverless operation
FRANCE: Paris metro operator RATP has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to convert Line 13 to unattended driverless operation.
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NewsAppenzeller Bahnen applies to automate Rheineck – Walzenhausen line
SWITZERLAND: Appenzeller Bahnen has applied to the Federal Office of Transport for permission to convert its 1·96 km Rheineck –Walzenhausen rack-and-adhesion railway to fully automated operation.
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NewsAutomated wheel inspection robot aims to reduce time and cost
GERMANY: Non-destructive test company Waygate Technologies has launched a fully automated ultrasonic wheelset testing system.
