Before embarking on a virtual journey on driverless trains, take a look at this short, interactive video on this emerging new phenomenon and the gradual evolution of automation in India’s railways:
Picture yourself in the near future riding a train that drives itself. No drivers and no attendants on board. As the train zips on the tracks at a high speed, through elevated tracks and underground tunnels, you can clearly see the tracks ahead with no driver’s coach blocking the view. This will be the experience that millions of passengers will be having through Driverless Trains, the future of railways that will become a reality in India very soon.
India is taking technological leaps to usher in digital railways. One of the outcomes of this fast adoption of digitalization will be the Driverless Trains, also called Unattended Train Operation.
And if you are apprehensive about the safety of a train without a driver, rest assured as these trains promise high levels of safety and security by lowering the possibility of man-made mistakes to a minimum.
However, Indian Railways' transition to driverless trains will be a step-by-step evolution. The degree of automation is indicated by the Grade of Automation (GoA) wherein GoA 0 is no automation and GoA is fully automated. Hitachi’s global rail expertise and its trusted and proven signalling solutions such as Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) empower rail and metro operators to advance their systems to the highest level of automation- GoA 4.
India kickstarted its smart automation journey with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) rolling out the nation's first driverless train in the National Capital in 2020. With that, DMRC joined the prestigious league of 7 percent of the world’s metro networks operating this technology.1 The mass rapid system has also become the world's fourth largest network in terms of driverless technology.2
The DMRC is currently at GoA 1 with “roving attendants” to respond to any emergency on board. However, the metro operator plans to switch to the Driverless Train Operation (DTO) mode wherein all train operations can be supervised entirely from the three command centres of the DMRC and eventually move to being fully automated at GoA 4, eliminating all human intervention on board.
As leaders in integrated rail solutions, Hitachi Rail understands the growing imperative for the fast adoption of digital and automation technologies in fast-emerging economies like India. The increasing pressure on rail networks as a result of growing demand for connectivity requires modern infrastructure that can upgrade capacity ahead of demand, as envisioned under the National Rail Plan 2030.3 This can only be achieved through digitalization and automation.
The realization of fully-automated trains will, however, require the latest rolling stock and signalling technologies such as CBTC amongst other requirements. As a technology leader in signalling solutions, Hitachi Rail is supplying its proven CBTC solution to leading metro operators in fast-growing cities to introduce driverless train technology.
CBTC is a modern communication-based system that uses radio communication to transfer real-time train control information to the wayside equipment distributed along the line. This helps determine the train’s exact location, speed, braking distance, and other parameters, for enhanced rail performance and passenger safety.
Permits only one train at a time between stations
Train’s exact location determined using a wireless system. Headway (gap between trains) can be controlled allowing trains to run closely together safely
Maximum track utilization due to closer headways
Significant maintenance savings and reductions in the amount of equipment needed
CBTC powers Passenger Information Systems, enables train punctuality and shorter dwell time at stations
Safe train separation & over speed protection
Predictable and punctual train services
Energy efficiency through smooth braking, optimized acceleration
Permits only one train at a time between stations
Train’s exact location determined using a wireless system. Headway (gap between trains) can be controlled allowing trains to run closely together safely
CBTC powers Passenger Information Systems, enables train punctuality and shorter dwell time at stations
Significant maintenance savings and reductions in the amount of equipment needed
CBTC powers Passenger Information Systems, enables train punctuality and shorter dwell time at stations
Significant maintenance savings and reductions in the amount of equipment needed
Predictable and punctual train services
Energy efficiency through smooth braking, optimized acceleration
Hitachi’s CBTC amongst other solutions is already powering metros in burgeoning cities such as Noida Metro and Kolkata Metro. We are executing the Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 CBTC as well. For Mumbai Metro Lines 2&7, Hitachi Rail has provided a robust Train Control Management System (TCMS) which will allow Unattended Train Operation, with high-level technology and safety.
Hitachi will continue to leverage its Social Innovation Business and rail expertise to support India in taking a global leadership role in the mobility sector, thereby Strengthening Global India, its Net Zero goals, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
1. https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/pm-modi-launches-indias-first-driverless-metro-train-in-delhi-heres-all-you-need-to-know/575285/
2. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/driverless-train-operations-on-pink-line-flagged-off/articleshow/87905926.cms
3. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1806617#:~:text=Indian%20Railways%20have%20prepared%20a,Railways%20in%20freight%20to%2045%25
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