Swiss & Austrian ‘smart train’ tests semi-autonomous braking

Image: Rail Cargo Group
Standing from left to right, Günter Petschnig (GF PJM), Ferdinand Schmidt (CEO RCG) Seated from left to right, Martin Joch (GF PJM), Nicolas Perrin (CEO SBB Cargo), Clemens Först (CEO RCG) Günter Petschnig (Managing Director PJM), Ferdinand Schmidt (Speaker of the Board RCG), Nicolas Perrin (Member of the Board of SBB Cargo)

Rail Cargo Group (RCG) and SBB Cargo, the national rail freight carriers of Austria and Switzerland, are pooling resources to develop their own ‘intelligent freight train’. It will feature a semi-autonomous braking system as part of an advanced telematics and cloud-based information platform.

The alliance, which is also utilising the technical expertise of Austrian-based railway engineering test specialists PJ Messtechnik (PJM), has signed a contract for a partially-automated train preparation system, the first step of which is the integration of the automatic brake test. The aim is to lay the foundations for a ‘new standard’ in in-train communications.

Sensor technology

RCG says the digitalisation of rail freight traffic is gathering pace, and customer requirements regarding telematics and sensor technology are continually increasing. This means it is even more important, they say, to standardise, digitalise and eventually to automate current production processes in rail freight traffic.

Currently, brake tests have to be carried out manually, which means that for each new train, an employee must check the brakes are functioning on every wagon before departure. The future goal is for this to be performed automatically, providing increased reliability and safety, particularly with regard to employees’ activities in shunting operations and when preparing trains.

Test train

The joint and supranational development of products in rail freight traffic makes sense in many respects. For example, the system solutions developed can be tested across national borders – in this case, in Switzerland and Austria. This accelerates the acquisition of official recognition across Europe. For this reason, SBB Cargo, the RCG and PJM are together developing a marketable test train.

This pilot project represents a milestone in the technological development of rail freight traffic, offering not only guaranteed interoperability, but also open and proven standards for European goods traffic. PJM, an accredited test body for railway vehicles, will provide the necessary test technology with the WaggonTracker System. It also develops and manufactures products in the field of measurement technology, telematics and monitoring solutions for the railway sector. Initial tests take place this summer, with the hope that the first generation of the partnership’s intelligent freight train will be in production on the Swiss and/or and Austria network by 2018.

You just read one of our premium articles free of charge

Want full access? Take advantage of our exclusive offer

See the offer

Author: Simon Weedy

Simon is a journalist for RailFreight.com - a dedicated online platform for all the news about the rail freight sector

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.

Swiss & Austrian ‘smart train’ tests semi-autonomous braking | RailFreight.com

Swiss & Austrian ‘smart train’ tests semi-autonomous braking

Image: Rail Cargo Group
Standing from left to right, Günter Petschnig (GF PJM), Ferdinand Schmidt (CEO RCG) Seated from left to right, Martin Joch (GF PJM), Nicolas Perrin (CEO SBB Cargo), Clemens Först (CEO RCG) Günter Petschnig (Managing Director PJM), Ferdinand Schmidt (Speaker of the Board RCG), Nicolas Perrin (Member of the Board of SBB Cargo)

Rail Cargo Group (RCG) and SBB Cargo, the national rail freight carriers of Austria and Switzerland, are pooling resources to develop their own ‘intelligent freight train’. It will feature a semi-autonomous braking system as part of an advanced telematics and cloud-based information platform.

The alliance, which is also utilising the technical expertise of Austrian-based railway engineering test specialists PJ Messtechnik (PJM), has signed a contract for a partially-automated train preparation system, the first step of which is the integration of the automatic brake test. The aim is to lay the foundations for a ‘new standard’ in in-train communications.

Sensor technology

RCG says the digitalisation of rail freight traffic is gathering pace, and customer requirements regarding telematics and sensor technology are continually increasing. This means it is even more important, they say, to standardise, digitalise and eventually to automate current production processes in rail freight traffic.

Currently, brake tests have to be carried out manually, which means that for each new train, an employee must check the brakes are functioning on every wagon before departure. The future goal is for this to be performed automatically, providing increased reliability and safety, particularly with regard to employees’ activities in shunting operations and when preparing trains.

Test train

The joint and supranational development of products in rail freight traffic makes sense in many respects. For example, the system solutions developed can be tested across national borders – in this case, in Switzerland and Austria. This accelerates the acquisition of official recognition across Europe. For this reason, SBB Cargo, the RCG and PJM are together developing a marketable test train.

This pilot project represents a milestone in the technological development of rail freight traffic, offering not only guaranteed interoperability, but also open and proven standards for European goods traffic. PJM, an accredited test body for railway vehicles, will provide the necessary test technology with the WaggonTracker System. It also develops and manufactures products in the field of measurement technology, telematics and monitoring solutions for the railway sector. Initial tests take place this summer, with the hope that the first generation of the partnership’s intelligent freight train will be in production on the Swiss and/or and Austria network by 2018.

You just read one of our premium articles free of charge

Want full access? Take advantage of our exclusive offer

See the offer

Author: Simon Weedy

Simon is a journalist for RailFreight.com - a dedicated online platform for all the news about the rail freight sector

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.