At the InnoTrans 2024 event in Berlin, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) showcased the prototype of an autonomous railway vehicle, developed in-house to inspect high-speed rail lines. This innovative vehicle is intended to operate before the first commercial train of the day, boasting a four-hour operating range and a top speed of 200 km/h. The vehicle’s software integrates artificial intelligence and machine vision, enabling it to detect obstacles, intrusions, and anomalies along the railway.
RFI explained that this vehicle, technically classified as an URV (Unmanned Railway Vehicle), is the result of over five years of collaborative work between their internal Research and Development team, various railway industry partners such as AnsaldoBreda, Hitachi Rail, and leading Italian research institutions, including the Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK) and the Polytechnic University of Milan. According to the company, "In August 2024, the first dynamic tests at the Bologna San Donato experimental circuit confirmed the outstanding capabilities of the URV, with seamless integration of the autonomous driving system (ATO over ETCS) and the standard ERTMS signaling system."
In addition to the autonomous line surveillance vehicle, RFI also unveiled a quadcopter drone designed to monitor remote, unmanned areas without the need for fixed surveillance systems like cameras. This modular system can be easily transported and installed anywhere without requiring cranes or other heavy equipment. The three-part system autonomously manages drone operation, control, recharging, and cooling. The captured images are processed on-site by a computer, with the ability to send the data remotely. In the future, the drone will be equipped with object and obstacle recognition capabilities for more advanced surveillance.
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Foto: FS
Also on display in Berlin was one of the two newly acquired Dual Shunter 2000 locomotives, part of a €5.5 million order from CZ Loko, which the Group will deploy at the Port of La Spezia. These are the first hybrid diesel-electric shunting locomotives operating in Italy, and the Group plans to acquire more for use at the ports of Ravenna and Padua’s intermodal terminal.
The Dual Shunter 2000 is powered by an 895 kW diesel engine and a 2,200 kW electric engine. On electrified lines, it can utilize regenerative braking to recharge its batteries. FS emphasized that "this power system shift offers significant benefits for operational models, eliminating the need for two separate locomotives (electric and diesel) or using a diesel locomotive on electrified lines. This ultimately boosts operational efficiency, productivity, and environmental sustainability."
