Dutch rail infrastructure manager ProRail has announced plans to trial driverless freight trains on the Betuweroute between Rotterdam and Germany.
ProRail said it was approached by DB Cargo last year to test the application of driverless vehicles on the route and is now working with relevant bodies to determine how it can safely conduct trials on the route.
The double-track railway is equipped with ERTMS, making it the ‘perfect’ test bed for the technology, says ProRail.
The same announcement included details of another project known as ‘Route Ribbon’ – a real-time network information system which can be accessed by drivers through a tablet computer. Trials are to begin on DB Cargo trains next week.
