Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics has awarded funding to Alstom to test implementation of Automatic Train Operation (ATO) on daily passenger operation of regional trains. It will be a world-first trial of the use of ATO, already employed on suburban metro systems, in use on regional passenger trains. 

The project will begin in 2021 together with the Regional Association of the greater area of Braunschweig, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin).

After evaluation of the selected tracks and the equipment necessary for automated operation, the testing will be carried out with two Coradia Continental regional trains owned by the Regionalbahnfahrzeuge Großraum Braunschweig GmbH. Alstom is an established supplier for ATO on metro systems. The company says this will be a world-first for regional passenger trains.

Two trains based on Alstom’s Coradia Continental platform will be equipped with a European Train Control System (ETCS) and additional Automatic Train Operation (ATO) equipment. The equipment will enable the trains to operate automatically, testing different grades of automation (GoA): GoA3 in regular passenger operation and GoA4 during shunting. GoA3 describes a fully autonomous train journey, but with an attendant who can intervene in the operation in case of emergency. GoA4 denotes unattended operation with no staff aboard, but with the possibility of remote control.

“In the future, automated trains will optimise regional rail operations, reduce energy consumption, and increase ride comfort. In this way, highly automated driving will make a decisive contribution to climate protection and contribute to the development of a modern, attractive railway system. Following the development and successful testing of the world’s first hydrogen train Coradia iLint, Alstom is once again the innovative driver in rail transport with the pilot for regional trains in automated operation,” said Jörg Nikutta, Managing Director of Alstom in Germany and Austria.

“After the successful operation of the fuel cell train in the Elbe-Weser Triangle, the Alstom site in Salzgitter is once again setting standards for tomorrow’s local transportation with this project,” said Dr Bern Althusmann, minister of economics and transportation for Lower Saxony. “The fact that we in Lower Saxony are now able to drive forward the testing and further development of automatic train operation in addition to the test field for automated and networked mobility on the road is a decisive step for the future of passenger transport by rail. The new model project promises a high degree of innovation, which we need for climate-friendly and efficient mobility services. Of course, I am particularly pleased that with Alstom, another company from Lower Saxony underlines our reputation as an important source of innovation”.

“ATO, or Automatic Train Operation, is one of the most exciting challenges in the railway industry. It gives us the opportunity to shape and significantly change the operational management of the future. But a lot of research is still needed before this is the case, and I am very pleased to be working with Alstom on this project,” said Birgit Milius, head of the department of railway operations and infrastructure at TU Berlin.