Czech railway technology company AŽD Prahareported significant progress in the driverless operation project on the Kopidlo – Dolní Bousov line. While the company closely monitors the results of its autonomous train trials, it is also making extensive upgrades to core technologies. These developments stand out as important steps towards the company’s strategic goal of switching to fully driverless train operation on the Čížkovice – Most section by 2030.
Autonomous Experiments and Technology Development
Trials on the Kopidlo – Dolní Bousov line from April to early October confirmed the stable performance of the train at the GoA3 level. During this period, the train traveled more than 3,000 kilometers and proved the reliability of the autonomous system by correctly reacting to a road vehicle and animals ignoring the signal at a crossing.
AŽD Praha develops various technological solutions to increase operational safety and efficiency. These include a smart video surveillance system for level crossings that sends information about vehicle or pedestrian presence to trains. Additionally, the company is updating its ATO system in accordance with the latest specifications of the R2DATO project. AŽD Praha, which is preparing joint tests of ATO components together with its project partners, aims to verify operational compatibility and evaluate the behavior of autonomous systems under different conditions.
Remote Control and Strategic Planning
In the trials, a system consisting of a motor wagon and a passenger wagon belonging to the EDITA laboratory, which can currently reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour (with the potential to increase to 80 kilometers if necessary), is used.
The company is actively developing elements of remote control. Control is provided by staff via a workstation on the laboratory bus or via a tablet. Control possibilities from a competence center or headquarters at the Detenice station are also being evaluated. While AŽD Praha emphasizes that autonomous trains will gain an important place in Czech railways, it states that the current trials on the Kopidlo – Dolní Bousov line play a vital role in improving the behavioral parameters of automated systems under real-world conditions.
