We already know that businesses are working on self-driving vehicles, but what about self-driving trains? Well, look no further because, in Germany, rail operators Deutsche Bahn and Siemens have unveiled the world’s first automated, driverless train, which will operate in Hamburg. But, wait a minute, aren’t there already autonomous trains? There are, indeed. There are autonomous metro trains in several locations across the world. The primary distinction is that these trains operate on exclusive single tracks, which means that they exclusively use self-driving trains and nothing else.
Highlights
- Hamburg is the first city to have a self-driving train.
- When compared to regular trains, this train is more punctual and energy-efficient.
- The country intends to install four such trains to the northern city’s S-Bahn rapid urban rail network.
- These trains will begin carrying passengers on the current rail infrastructure in December.
- Other cities, such as Paris, have autonomous metros, whilst airports frequently have automated monorail trains that run between terminals.
- These trains, however, travel on dedicated single tracks, whereas the Hamburg train will share tracks with other regular trains.
Deutsche Bahn and industrial company Siemens presented the world’s first automated, driverless train in Hamburg on Monday, touting it as more punctual and energy-efficient than regular trains.
In December, Four such trains will be up and running in the northern city’s S- Bahn rapid urban rail network and will start carrying passengers on the current rail infrastructure.
Other cities, such as Paris, have autonomous metros, and airports frequently have automated monorail systems plying terminals, but typically operate on dedicated single tracks, whereas the Hamburg train will share tracks with other conventional trains.
The train is entirely automated and operated by digital technologies. The train’s driver remains on board to monitor the trip of the passengers. Shunting, or turning the train around, is performed without the presence of on-board staff.DB, Siemens Mobility, and the City of Hamburg have spent a total of €60 million on the digital S-Bahn Hamburg project, which is part of DB’s Digital Rail Germany initiative. The initiative, described as a “global first” by Siemens and Deutsche Bahn, is part of a 60 million euro ($70 million) modernization of Hamburg’s fast urban rail system.
According to Deutsche Bahn CEO Richard Lutz, autonomous trains provide “a more dependable” service “without the need for a single kilometre of extra track.”
Beginning in December, the four digital S-Bahn trains in Hamburg will offer regularly scheduled passenger service. Deliberations to digitalize Hamburg’s whole S-Bahn system by the end of the decade are already in the works, as are investments in trains and equipment. The technology is expected to be utilized on regional and mainline train lines across the country.
Who will be in charge of the trains?
Although the train is entirely automated and controlled by digital technologies, a driver will sit aboard the train to monitor the passengers’ trips.
About Deutsche Bahn (German Railways)
- It is a German railway corporation headquartered in Berlin.
- It is a private limited liability business.
- The company’s only stakeholder is the Federal Republic of Germany.
- It is the world’s second-largest transportation corporation.
- Deutsche Bahn was the world’s largest railway business by revenue in 2015.
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