The AutomatedTrain project, delivered by Siemens Mobility with Deutsche Bahn and other partners, has shown that fully automated GoA4 train operation is technically achievable on open rail networks, using a Siemens Mireo train to test driverless deployment and stabling.
Siemens Mobility, working with Deutsche Bahn and other partners from industry and science, has demonstrated the technical feasibility of fully automated train operation at GoA4 on an open rail network, under the joint AutomatedTrain research project.
Using a Siemens Mobility Mireo train, the project team tested and demonstrated fully automated deployment and stabling operations, the first concrete use case delivered under the programme. In the demonstration, the train received a command to start, prepared itself for operation autonomously, carried out required self-tests, and travelled driverless from the depot to its starting station, detecting and reacting to obstacles along the way.
Automation built on ATO, ETCS and new sensor technology
The automated operation is based on the interplay of Automatic Train Operation (ATO), signalling technology based on the European Train Control System (ETCS), intelligent vehicle control systems and new environment recognition technologies. A digital map and high-precision localisation are combined with sensor systems to detect obstacles on the track, enabling the train to react automatically.
Central to the solution is AVVO (Advanced Vital Vehicle Operation), a safety-related platform handling selected safety-critical functions and supporting the automated execution of operational processes. AVVO connects all systems relevant to automated operation, controlling functions such as vehicle preparation, direction of travel and braking, while monitoring safe train movement and ensuring the vehicle automatically transitions to a safe state in the event of a malfunction. The platform also enables secure communication with the control centre.
Alongside the practical testing, project partners developed requirements and a consistent architecture for future fully automated rail systems, forming the basis for the technical solutions applied to the train. The project has also laid groundwork for transferring the technology into standardisation and future approval processes.
Marc Ludwig, CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, said: “AutomatedTrain demonstrates that fully automated driving in open rail systems is feasible. Together with our partners, we have developed the decisive technologies and successfully demonstrated them with our Mireo train. This creates the technological foundation for the next generation of rail transport and marks a significant step forward in bringing automation to the railway.”
The research project formed part of the German Government’s economic stimulus package and was co-funded by the European Union through the German Recovery and Resilience Plan. According to the project partners, the results show that fully automated driving in open rail networks is no longer only a vision but can be technically realised, providing a foundation for further work towards standardisation and future implementation.
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