On 18 December 2024, Nevomo and Hansebahn Bremen – a strategic alliance between Captrain Deutschland and ArcelorMittal Bremen – announced the launch of a pilot project to develop an autonomous freight train capable of operating on existing infrastructure and rolling stock. At the heart of this initiative is Nevomo’s MagRail Booster Technology. This technology integrates a linear motor into the existing railway infrastructure, removing the need for traditional locomotives for freight transport.
In practice, freight cars will be equipped with linear motors that will enable them to move autonomously, without the assistance of locomotives. This innovation has the potential to enhance flexibility, frequency, and operational efficiency in rail transport, while simultaneously reducing reliance on traditional locomotives, particularly on non-electrified routes. The initiative is supported by the German federal programme "Zukunft Schienengüterverkehr" (Future of Rail Freight Transport), which is promoted by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. The programme has allocated approximately six million euros to fund innovation in the rail sector.
The pilot project, named Bremag (Bremen Magnetic Shuttle), aims to create a freight car handling system within closed areas. The initial development focuses on automating the transport of steel, particularly coils, between various production facilities at the Bremen site. With a railway network spanning 100 kilometres, Hbb manages the logistics of rail transport within a strategically located industrial area, and the new technology aims to significantly improve the frequency and punctuality of deliveries.
