German Railways: Railway is planning autonomous trains – Times Online

The German Railway works on trains without drivers. “I reckon that we in 2021, 2022 or 2023 are so far that we can run fully automatically in parts of our network,” said the CEO of the German Railway, Rüdiger Grube, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . “The autonomous driving is driving in a complex rail system in the fast and slow passenger trains and freight trains, more difficult than in a subway – but it is possible to start the first pilot projects, a test field, we have built in the Erzgebirgsbahn..”

pit hopes that workers’ representatives support the projects. “Even councils and trade unions recognize that by digitizing the world is changing,” he said. If the web should remain competitive, must act. “Otherwise we will fall increasingly behind in productivity. We want to delight customers with modern technology.”

Last year Grube announced that the train autonomously moving trains plans. “Yes, we can imagine that sitting in trains sometime no drivers,” he said in November. he did not name a date at the time, but said: “. We do not want to drive autonomously after the automotive industry, but previously” In May this year he then quoted the Wirtschaftswoche with the words, in ten to 20 years trains could drive autonomously. Now the railway intends to implement its plans apparently faster.

In Germany there are still a few pilot projects in which Trams run autonomously. So wrong in Nuremberg Line 3 of the metro since 2008 without a driver. Some years longer operates the elevated train Skylinie that day up to 25,000 passengers transported automatically at Frankfurt airport. Worldwide it so far mainly suburban and underground railways that operate autonomously as in Lille, Vancouver or London. Here mine plans, the first trips of Deutsche Bahn. The World he said last year: “A first application is most likely there conceivable where there is no mixed operation in the rail network, for example, in suburban trains.” but

Autonomous trains are only part of the digital strategy with which he wanted to reform the company, said Grube the FAZ . The company will continue to utilize data better, which it collects. The track work around along with start-ups to promote data-driven business models. It also parts of the company to be restructured. “We plan to set up a so-called Digital Ventures GmbH, because we are aware for some time that startups need their own environment,” Grube said. Possible new business areas are about a digital mobility card or electronic commerce.