Bern-Solothurn begins first tests: Will the first driverless trains in Swiss regional transport be available soon?

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In this country, there is a train driver on every train. Someone who can react when something unexpected happens.

This may change soon: Regional transport Bern-Solothurn (RBS) is testing fully automated train journeys for the first time. This has never happened before in Switzerland, Tamedia newspapers wrote.

There are no passengers on the train during the test. RBS wants to automate so-called empty journeys. For example, the regional train S8 has to take a detour at Bätterkten BE station to return to the station. There are no passengers in each.

In the future, these inefficient empty journeys should be possible without personnel on the train. It is said that RBS does not want to save money on female train drivers, but instead wants to achieve greater transport performance with the same number of employees through automation. Therefore, driverless trains should be used in a warehouse area, for example.

First tests with the train driver

RBS is currently equipping the first trains with the new system. This can be turned on and off with the push of a button. During the first round of test drives, which will start in mid-October, there will be a train driver and a technical support staff on the train. On the second lap, only the driver of the train will be there; Ultimately, the train will remain alone. The newly developed eCab system provides various data such as the location of the train and the location of the signals.

RBS has previously carried out a risk analysis. To reduce the risk, transport companies rely on speed reductions, warnings for waiting passengers and fencing of open stretches of road, the article says.

The approval process for trial operation from 2024 is currently ongoing. If all goes well, driverless trains could be used for leisure trips as early as 2025. (kae)

Source :Blick