EXCITING: China Successfully Tests Driverless Heavy-Haul Freight Train in Northern Region

China Shenhua Energy has successfully completed trials of a fully automated heavy-haul freight train in northern China.

The massive 10,800-tonne, 1,300-meter-long train, consisting of 108 wagons, operated without a driver from Huanghua in Hebei province to Dongying city on the Shuohang Railway. The journey lasted approximately two and a half hours. According to Shenhua, the train "ran smoothly throughout the journey and stopped precisely at the designated location."

The implementation of driverless trains is expected to bring significant improvements to the east-west railway used for coal transportation, increasing the average train speed by 1.7 km/h and reducing energy consumption by 2.9%. Additionally, staffing requirements will be reduced by 30%, saving an estimated 12 million Yuan (USD 1.71 million) annually. The system relies on real-time and remote monitoring, intelligent infrastructure detection, and remote control of the train’s rear, enhancing both efficiency and safety on the railways.

At the same time, according to IRJ, construction has commenced on the Guyin Railway, a new 36.1 km single-track electrified line. This railway will be able to handle 10,000-tonne trains and is expected to transport 24 million tonnes of coal annually, significantly increasing transportation capacity in northern China’s Fugu County. Shenhua mentioned that unmanned heavy-haul trains will be crucial for China’s move toward intelligent and digital advancements in its rail systems.

Source: IRJ