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Driverless heavy haul train

Driverless heavy haul train

10 August 2018

On July 10, Rio Tinto completed its first iron ore delivery in Australia using a driverless train. The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator had granted approval on May 16, and full commercial operation is planned for late 2018. Deployment of the ATO over ETCS Level 2 technology to support Grade of Automation 4 (unattended) operation is the result of six years of development by Rio Tinto and technology supplier Ansaldo STS under Rio's A$940M AutoHaul project. Each locomotive has been equipped with an onboard module which sends automatic reports on its position, speed and direction of travel to the control centre. The locomotives and all public crossings are also fitted with cameras allowing constant monitoring from the control centre.

Railway Gazette International, Aug. 2018. p.8.

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