Dutch infrastructure operator ProRail has begun a one-year trial of automated train operation (ATO) on the Betuweroute rail freight transport corridor. A DB Cargo locomotive equipped with ATO technology and wagons of varying weights, but without commercial cargo, is being used. The trial will test two levels of automation: Grade of Automation 2 (GoA2) with driver supervision and fully autonomous GoA4 with remote monitoring, the first such trial under real-world conditions in European rail freight transport. The locomotive is also equipped with remote monitoring and control, and a test team is always present in the cab. The Betuweroute is well-suited as a test environment because it is used exclusively for rail freight transport, is equipped with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), and has no level crossings. GoA4 is expected to increase capacity by 20-30%, reduce energy consumption by up to 15%, and lower operating costs by up to 20%. After completion of the test phase, the results will be incorporated into standardisation and certification processes in order to deploy ATO in the long term on other corridors such as the Rhine-Alpine Corridor.
