Moscow Central Circle Set to Add 10 More Driverless Lastochka Trains
The smart commuter trains are expected to enter service by the end of the year.
Russian Railways (RZD) plans to equip 10 Lastochka trains operating on the Moscow Central Circle with driverless control systems by the end of the year, the company’s press service said.
The first driverless Lastochka entered service on the Moscow Central Circle two years ago. Since then, it has traveled 200,000 kilometers — equivalent to five trips around the Earth at the equator.
The train operates in automated mode. Neural networks scan the surroundings and make the necessary decisions. However, a driver still remains in the cab. The driver oversees the opening and closing of doors as passengers board and exit the train.
“Under the international classification, this is the third of four possible levels of automation. Our specialists at NIIAS are now completing tests of onboard systems and computer vision for the fourth level. In the future, this will allow trains to operate without drivers,” representatives of the rail operator said.
