Latest news with #railway technology
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Czech driverless train hits open track
The autonomous train relies on cameras, lasers, satellite navigation and an integrated digital map for information on its whereabouts. (AFP pic) KOPIDLNO : A rail line linking two northern Czech towns is testing Europe's first driverless train operating in an open environment, its developer told AFP on Tuesday. The train named Edita has been running since April on a local railway used as a testing track by the Prague-based private AZD company producing transport control and signalling systems. 'The train runs autonomously, it is equipped with systems that enable us to control its traction, brakes, and speed,' said AZD's railway developer Michal Novak. 'It is also equipped with a device that detects objects and recognises… obstacles and reacts accordingly,' he added. AZD has been running the train sparingly since its launch as its staff often test new equipment on it. Edita connects two small towns on a 24km track that was abandoned in 2010 before AZD bought it six years later. AZD has invested 320 million Czech koruna (US$15 million) in the project, using EU funding for about one-third of the amount. The autonomous train, which has so far driven some 1,700km with passengers, relies on cameras, lasers, satellite navigation and an integrated digital map for information on its whereabouts. Under the current legislation, it still needs a driver to at least supervise its operation. The early Tuesday train's crew also included a conductor and experts checking data. When a hare ran onto the track, Edita duly slowed down and informed the crew about the obstacle. Novak said the train once had to stop because of a herd of sheep in the way, but he added incidents like this were rare. He added Edita was the first driverless train in Europe in an open environment with level crossings and where animals might get in the way. 'There are systems where autonomous vehicles operate, but these are mostly on special tracks that are closed off… such as underground or transfers between airport terminals,' he said. 'These have been in place for quite some time and work well in Europe, but I only know of one project in Australia that operates in such an open landscape,' added Novak. Watching the track ahead of the train on a screen in the carriage, passenger Radka Globanova told AFP autonomous trains 'definitely have a future'. 'I think the progress will be really fast as artificial intelligence is being developed. There are autonomous trains, autonomous cars, why not?'
France 24
05-08-2025
- Automotive
- France 24
Czech driverless train hits open track
The train named Edita has been running since April on a local railway used as a testing track by the Prague-based private AZD company producing transport control and signalling systems. "The train runs autonomously, it is equipped with systems that enable us to control its traction, brakes, and speed," said AZD's railway developer Michal Novak. "It is also equipped with a device that detects objects and recognises... obstacles and reacts accordingly," he added. AZD has been running the train sparingly since its launch as its staff often test new equipment on it. Edita connects two small towns on a 24-kilometre (15-mile) track that was abandoned in 2010 before AZD bought it six years later. AZD has invested 320 million Czech koruna ($15 million) in the project, using EU funding for about one-third of the amount. The autonomous train, which has so far driven some 1,700 kilometres (1,060 miles) with passengers, relies on cameras, lasers, satellite navigation and an integrated digital map for information on its whereabouts. Under the current legislation, it still needs a driver to at least supervise its operation. The early Tuesday train's crew also included a conductor and experts checking data. When a hare ran onto the track, Edita duly slowed down and informed the crew about the obstacle. Novak said the train once had to stop because of a herd of sheep in the way, but he added incidents like this were rare. He added Edita was the first driverless train in Europe in an open environment with level crossings and where animals might get in the way. "There are systems where autonomous vehicles operate, but these are mostly on special tracks that are closed off... such as underground or transfers between airport terminals," he said. "These have been in place for quite some time and work well in Europe, but I only know of one project in Australia that operates in such an open landscape," added Novak. Watching the track ahead of the train on a screen in the carriage, passenger Radka Globanova told AFP autonomous trains "definitely have a future". "I think the progress will be really fast as artificial intelligence is being developed. There are autonomous trains, autonomous cars, why not?" © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indian Railways signs MoU with DFCCIL to install AI/ML-based inspection system
Indian Railways has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) to implement an AI-based train safety system designed to improve the monitoring of rolling stock health. This move signifies a leap towards integrating advanced technologies for service efficiency and maintenance automation in the rail sector. The MoU was signed by India's Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) project and development director Sumit Kumar and DFCCIL GGM (Mechanical) Jawahar Lal at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi. Witnessing the event were DFCCIL managing director Praveen Kumar and other senior officials. The machine vision-based inspection system (MVIS) utilises artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to capture high-resolution images of the under-gear of moving trains, automatically detecting anomalies such as hanging, loose, or missing components. The system then promptly alerts the relevant authorities in real-time, enabling quick response and preventive measures. It promises to significantly boost train operation safety, reduce manual inspections, and prevent accidents and service disruptions. DFCCIL's responsibilities under the MoU include the procurement, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of four MVIS units. The initiative is part of Indian Railways' wider goal of integrating intelligent systems into the railway ecosystem. The signing of this MoU is a crucial step towards the digital transformation of rail safety and the development of a future-ready rail infrastructure. In a related development, the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) and the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) have signed an MoU to create multilingual AI solutions for Indian Railways. The initiative will support passenger interactions in 22 Indian languages, advancing linguistic inclusivity and digital transformation. "Indian Railways signs MoU with DFCCIL to install AI/ML-based inspection system" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
