The digital revolution of rail freight transport

Since May 2022, Voith and PJM have been closely cooperating on the future of rail freight transport. Our joint mission is to promptly realize the automation and digitalization of the transport mode in order to shift more goods quickly onto environmentally friendly railways.

We talked with Matheus Habets (VP Digitalization Mobility at Voith) and Christoph Lorenzutti (COO at PJM) about the status of the rail freight revolution.

1.   Why are automation and digitalization of operations essential for rail freight?

 Matheus Habets: For the EU to meet its targets for reducing CO2 emissions, more freight transport must be shifted to the railways. However, the transport mode is currently stuck in outdated, slow and labor-intensive processes. Automation and digitalization will significantly speed up these processes in the future. The basis for this is the digital automatic coupler. It enables automation and the establishment of a digital backbone across the entire train.

 Christoph Lorenzutti: If a train stands around for more than an hour before departing, it will never be able to catch up on its route. It is therefore essential to extract maximum time savings and acceleration effects through digital solutions and the automation of processes. Demographic changes and fewer personnel in the field, along with higher expected transport volume, require such solutions as well. Our automated brake test addresses exactly this issue. It saves an enormous amount and accelerates train preparation. Furthermore, our automated load weight monitoring supports the personnel onsite in optimally loading wagons and utilizing existing capacities. Overloading or asymmetrical loading of wagons is avoided, and the potential loading capacity is utilized fully.

2.   On which digital features are Voith and PJM currently working and what are the challenges?

 Matheus Habets: The future will bring a wide variety of digital functions. As part of our partnership, we are currently focusing on remote uncoupling (= "Königsklasse") and its basis, the automatic formation of trains. The challenge is the operational integration into shunting procedures, most of which have been untouched and deeply rooted for decades. What is needed, therefore, is a uniform solution that is both robust yet safe and that convinces European operators.

 Christoph Lorenzutti: Our technology must be perfectly aligned with the operators' process landscape. To achieve this, the cooperation between us as a system supplier with those who will use the solutions in day-to-day operations is essential and requires the coordination and adaptation of modern, digital operating processes.

3.   What will rail freight transport look like in 2050?

 Matheus Habets: The mode of transport will be faster in 2050 and will have a substantially larger market share of the overall transport performance. In combination with modern train control systems, longer trains will be able to be formed in the future, and they will travel faster thanks to the selective control of the brakes. The job profile of shunting personnel will have changed. Many dangerous, physically demanding and time-consuming work steps that still must be performed manually today will be a thing of the past in 2050. Even autonomous driving on the first and last mile could be implemented by then.

 Christoph Lorenzutti: Rail operations will be highly automated in all areas, and the modal split will shift towards rail. There will be a change in goods transported, for example, away from bulk goods such as coal. LCL and single-wagon transports are experiencing a renaissance, and smaller units will be quickly transported. The quality of rail freight service will be significantly improved. Transports will be secure, and their condition known. Perishable goods will be transported without hesitation. Transnational transports will become uncomplicated and greatly expanded.

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For more information about the digitalization of rail freight transport and the digital automatic coupler, please visit our website: www.voith.com/cargoflex