Electric rail vehicles to undergo autonomous trials in the US

Autonomous electric rail vehicles are set to be trialed in the United States, following the country's success with self-driving cars. However, in this particular trial, the traditional concept of a 'train' is noticeably absent.

The rail transportation system has been developed by Parallel Systems, a Los Angeles-based company founded in 2020 by former SpaceX engineers. Their battery-electric rail vehicles aim to move freight in a cleaner, safer, and more cost-effective manner compared to traditional trucks.

Each autonomous vehicle is equipped with its own battery, traction motor, computer, and sensors, allowing it to move independently along the rail. However, for greater efficiency, it is envisioned that these vehicles would travel in groups of 10 to 15, transporting standard shipping containers as a single or double stacked load.

These vehicles consume only 25% of the energy used by articulated lorries, making them highly energy-efficient. Additionally, they are claimed to offer the lowest operational cost among all surface freight transportation options.

Two railway companies, Georgia Central Railway and Heart of Georgia Railroad, have applied to the Federal Railroad Administration to pilot this technology on portions of their rail lines. They believe that adopting this autonomous rail system could attract new container business to and from the Port of Savannah, as well as revitalize traffic on rural rail lines and inland ports in Georgia. Furthermore, this technology has the potential to reduce the number of trucks on the roads and decrease carbon emissions.

It is important to note that this new technology primarily aims to shift freight transportation from roads to railways, rather than revolutionize the movement of rail freight. However, the latter could be an inevitable consequence. Therefore, it is anticipated that the autonomous rail vehicles will primarily operate on relatively short journeys.

Matt Soule, the founder and CEO of Parallel Systems, explained that their goal is to use platoons of autonomous rail cars to transport freight along approximately 500-mile routes that are typically handled by trucks. The economic feasibility of mile-long trains pulled by a central locomotive is limited on such routes.

These units can travel up to 500 miles on a single charge, and with the ability to be charged within one hour, range is not a limiting factor.

Unlike traditional freight trains, Parallel's platoons do not require large quantities of freight to make the service economically viable. This allows them to offer a more responsive service and a wider range of routes.

While concerns about safety are often associated with driverless cars, Parallel claims that their system is actually safer than the alternative. Their vehicles can quickly detect hazards and come to a stop up to 10 times faster than a traditional train. Furthermore, the closed network of railroads is well-suited for autonomous technology due to its limited track access and centralized traffic control.

If approved, the pilot for this autonomous rail technology will commence next year.