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Press Release08 September 2026Siemens MobilityBerlin
AutomatedTrain showcases the future of driverless rail travel
The joint project
AutomatedTrain has reached a major milestone on the path towards fully
automated rail transport. Siemens Mobility, together with Deutsche Bahn and
other project partners from industry and science, has developed the foundations
and concepts for fully automated train operations. As part of the research
project, innovative technologies were developed and integrated by Siemens
Mobility into a Mireo train. This enabled successful testing and demonstration
of the technical feasibility of fully automated train deployment as well as
stabling operations. During this process, the train receives a command to start,
prepares itself for operation autonomously, conducts all required self-tests,
and subsequently travels driverless from the depot to its starting station.
During the journey, the train independently detects obstacles and reacts
appropriately.
Marc Ludwig, CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility:
"AutomatedTrain demonstrates that fully automated
driving in open rail systems is feasible. Together with our partners, we have
developed the decisive technologies and successfully demonstrated them with our
Mireo train. This creates the technological foundation for the next generation
of rail transport and marks a significant step forward in bringing automation
to the railway."
Johannes Steiniger,
Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and
Energy: “What we are seeing
here is the future of mobility. Research is being carried out here into
how fully automated trains can be deployed in the future. Driverless train
services offer opportunities – particularly in times of a skills shortage – to
continue to operate rail routes reliably in the future and to deploy trains
more flexibly. The project also demonstrates just how much promising and
profitable work can emerge from Germany as a centre of research when industry,
infrastructure companies and academia work together to shape the future.”
With the AutomatedTrain
project, Siemens is demonstrating fully automated train operation - from
vehicle preparation and driverless travel to the automated stabling of the
train. This is based on the interplay of Automatic Train Operation (ATO),
signaling technology based on the European Train Control System (ETCS),
intelligent vehicle control systems, and innovative recognition technologies of
the environment. Using a digital map and high-precision localization,
state-of-the-art sensor systems detect obstacles on the track and enable the
train to react automatically.
The heart of the
solution is AVVO (Advanced Vital Vehicle Operation). This safety-related
platform handles selected safety-critical functions and supports the automated
execution of operational processes. AVVO connects all systems relevant to
automated operation, controls functions such as vehicle preparation, direction
of travel, and braking, monitors safe train movement, and ensures that the
vehicle automatically transitions to a safe state in the event of any malfunction.
Furthermore, AVVO enables secure communication with the control center.
In addition to
practical testing, the project involved working systematically with partners to
develop the requirements and a consistent architecture for future fully
automated rail systems. These served as the basis for the technical solutions
on the train. Simultaneously, important groundwork was laid for the transfer
into standardization and the subsequent approval of such technologies.
The research project
was part of the German Government’s economic stimulus package and was co-funded
by the European Union (German Recovery and Resilience Plan). The findings and
technologies resulting from the project show that fully automated driving in
open rail networks is no longer just a vision but can be technically realized.
Thus, the AutomatedTrain research project is making a vital contribution to the
mobility of the future.
For this press release
Siemens Mobility
is a separately managed company of Siemens AG. As a leader in intelligent transport solutions for more than 175 years, Siemens Mobility is constantly innovating its portfolio. Its core areas include rolling stock, rail automation and electrification, a comprehensive software portfolio, turnkey systems as well as related services. With digital products and solutions, and the use of industrial AI, Siemens Mobility is enabling mobility operators worldwide to make their infrastructure intelligent, increase value sustainably over the entire lifecycle, enhance passenger experience, and guarantee availability. In fiscal year 2025, which ended on September 30, 2025, Siemens Mobility posted revenue of €12.4 billion and employed around 43,400 people worldwide. Further information is available at:
www.siemens.com/mobility