Rail automation news
News about railway and urban transport automation projects and technology.
-
In depthIndia: Start-up develops advanced simulation tool to augment safety
Indian start-up SimDaaS Autonomy is using advanced simulation tools to develop hazard perception and scenario planning that could further improve safety on the country’s railways. Founder Dr Bharat Lohani explains its technology to Bharti Jain.
-
NewsAccessible rack railcars with provision for automation to modernise Swiss line
SWITZERLAND: Appenzeller Bahnen has awarded Stadler a SFr17·5m contract to supply two rack railcars to replace the life-expired fleet on the 7 km Rorschach – Heiden line from the end of 2028.
-
In depthData: AI can help railways ‘do boring better’
4AI Systems founder Derel Wust explains to Nick Kingsley how AI holds the key to determining train location, offering potential for a data-led approach to minimising the risk of overspeed and signal passed at danger incidents.
-
In depthJapan: Part-privatised Tokyo Metro looks to grow internationally
Having been selected to help operate London’s Elizabeth Line, the part-privatised Tokyo Metro is looking to win more contracts to operate and maintain urban railways, with particular focus on the European and Oceanian markets, as Naoshi Sakai explains to Benjámin Zelki.
-
In depthAutomation: Futurail sees autonomous trains within six years
Co-founders Alex Haag and Maximilian Schöffer tell Andrew Grantham how Franco-German start-up Futurail is aiming to bring automation technology from the road sector to rail, where they see a great opportunity to build a Europe-based global champion.
-
In depthTelecoms: South Korea to explore potential of 6G technology in rail
Amid a push from the national government to launch a 6G telecoms network by 2028, Korea Railroad Research Institute is assessing how domestic railway operators could deploy the technology. Benjámin Zelki reports.
-
NewsPJM diagnostic equipment fitted to Plasser & Theurer machine
AUSTRIA: Plasser & Theurer has completed a prototype fitment of PJM’s vehicle status diagnostic tools on a ballast management train.
-
NewsRadar positioning system provides precise stopping without CBTC
SPAIN: Masats has tested of a radar positioning system which enables the highly accurate stopping of trains without relying on CBTC.
-
In depthJapan: Autonomous Operation offers flexibility with fewer staff
Trials on the RTRI test track near Tokyo have verified the performance of onboard detection and decision-making systems that could form the basis for autonomous train operations.
-
In depthComment: Demography is destiny
The demographic challenges facing many countries around the world mean that rail’s ability to cost-effectively deliver benefits in low-density regions such as rural Japan or much of France is in the spotlight, our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley warns.
-
In depthFreight: Rolling laboratory supports innovation
Portugal’s Rail CoLab association is developing its Freight Laboratory Train to act as a platform for both monitoring systems and the testing of new concepts, as Andre Pires explains.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
NewsDB InfraGO embraces artificial 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.