Technological revolution on the railway: AŽD is the first company in Europe to present an autonomous train with passengers in real operation

Autonomous trains are not new in the world, passengers know them for example from airport terminals or urban transport systems, where they move in closed corridors protected by fences or tunnels. However, the deployment of an autonomous train in an open landscape, where level crossings are located and traffic can be affected by unexpected situations, is a breakthrough innovation in Europe. This project demonstrates that autonomous driving technology can meet the challenges of normal rail traffic even in an unprotected environment.

"The operation of the autonomous railway line in the open landscape was preceded by years of intensive development, innovations and significant investments in Czech technologies developed by our R&D (Technika plant), as well as cooperation with the Railway Administration in order to fully secure the entire railway line via data interconnection between their terminals Kopidlno and Dolní Bousov. This means that both the EDITA vehicle (Experimental Rail Vehicle for Innovative Technologies of AŽD) and the infrastructure of the railway line are equipped with a number of highly sophisticated systems with artificial intelligence and the ability to learn in the DIGITAL 4.0 version," explains Zdeněk Chrdle, CEO of AŽD.

The line Kopidlno - Dolní Bousov (23,991 km long) is operationally controlled by the dispatcher of the Railway Administration from the railway station Kopidlno with a standby control centre located in the Competence Centre Dětenice. The whole system is still in the process of improvement and at the same time intensive work is being carried out in the legislative field with the aim of achieving the codification of autonomous railway operation in the Czech Republic as a possible way of its operation.

The autonomous train EDITA 811.111, i.e. Experimental Rail Vehicle for Innovative Technologies of AŽD, was constructed by modernization of the 810.111 railcar. Passengers will travel from April 5, 2025 in the trailer carriage of the 010 series, which has undergone a demanding reconstruction. It is equipped with VDUs showing online transmissions from cameras and lidar sensors installed on the drive vehicle, which take detailed pictures of the surroundings, measure distances and map the terrain. This allows passengers to see in real time the data necessary for the autonomous operation of the control systems, which are evaluated by the moving train. During full autonomous operation, the driver will not control the train from the board, but will supervise its safety from a supervisory workplace. In case of any problem, he will be able to intervene at any time and stop the train immediately with the emergency button. However, this is preceded by the need to complete the legislation necessary for regular autonomous operation. This must be newly defined. AŽD will continue to work very intensively with the relevant authorities, institutions and partners on this. Therefore, the driver will still be present at the board for the first runs. Interested persons will be able to see the technological solution and the interior of the experimental train during the train's turn at the terminal stations of the Railway Administration - in Kopidlno and Dolní Bousov.

“I'm glad we helped to put the autonomous train project into practice. The topic of innovation is absolutely crucial for the future of the Czech railway. Our sophisticated traffic management systems controlled through central dispatcher’s centres are proof that we take it seriously. I must also mention the leading role of the Railway Administration in the implementation of ETCS. I am not afraid to say that in this respect we are setting an ambitious pace throughout the Europe," says Jiří Svoboda, Director General of the Railway Administration.

"In the future, passengers will probably take some time to get used to the fact that no one will be sitting at the driver's seat and everything will be decided by super-fast and fail-safe computers with artificial intelligence and the ability to learn, using cameras, lidars, other sensors and communication with the open line section, which together can see much more than the driver himself and never succumb to fatigue," describes Zdeněk Chrdle.

The development of autonomous technologies is progressing at a dynamic pace at AŽD and could be installed in standard railway vehicles operating on conventional lines in the near future. AŽD plans to turn its Plum railways (Čížkovice - Obrnice), where it provides daily train operation within the line U10 of the Transport of the Ústí nad Labem Region, into a fully autonomous railway by 2030.

On the line Kopidlno - Dolní Bousov, a train equipped with autonomous systems with passengers will run only on the following selected weekend and holiday dates in 2025:

• April 5–6
• May 3–4
• May 31 – June 1
• July 1–6
• August 4–10
• September 6–7
• October 4–5

AŽD informs that the dates of train runs with autonomous systems are subject to change and therefore recommends passengers to monitor the website www.kopidlnka.cz for up-to-date information. During other weekends and public holidays from April to October, as well as during summer holidays - outside the designated dates for autonomous operation - conventional railcars or units will provide transport on Kopidlnka.

Three pairs of trains will be available to passengers during the operating days: the first will depart from Kopidlno at 8:15 a.m. and return from Dolní Bousov at 10:05 a.m., the second will depart from Kopidlno at 12:11 p.m. and return from Dolní Bousov at 2:05 p.m. The last train will leave Kopidlno at 4:11 p.m., with the return journey from Dolní Bousov scheduled for 5:20 p.m. The full fare for the entire length of the Kopidlno - Dolní Bousov line is CZK 50. Children from 6 to 15 years old, students and seniors from 65 years old are entitled to a 50% discount. Children up to 6 years of age are free of charge.

A complete timetable, as well as detailed technical data about the EDITA train and the Kopidlno - Dolní Bousov line can be found at www.kopidlnka.cz.

Download print-quality photos of the autonomous train and full HD video here: www.azd.cz/cs/edita