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Model of the Stuttgart subway station. On the left and in the middle are trains on the platforms. A large window lets in light. In the foreground of the picture are the hashtags from the Digitale Schiene logo.
Pilot project

Highly automated driving in the Stuttgart area

The pilot project "Highly automated driving in the Stuttgart area" (ATO GoA2) is being realised in the Digital Node Stuttgart (DKS) for S-Bahn and regional transport. The use of new technologies enables highly automated driving in an open system. This will improve operational quality, achieve better energy efficiency and increase route and transport capacity in the future.

Project Duration

Start
2021
End
2030

Our Partners

Technologies

The pilot project "Highly automated driving in the Stuttgart area" (ATO GoA2) is being realised in the Digital Node Stuttgart (DKS) for S-Bahn and regional transport. The use of new technologies enables highly automated driving in an open system. This will improve operational quality, achieve better energy efficiency and increase route and transport capacity in the future. 

The train is controlled by the ATO on-board unit in the train, which receives exact ATO track information from the ATO Centre. This is how ATO enables automated start of driving, the driving itself and stopping. This leads to an optimized driving and later braking than in manual operation. As a result, energy is saved, and route capacity is used optimally. In the event of delays, the maximum driving reserves can be utilized. ATO operation is activated by the driver, who remains on board in ATO GoA2 operation. 

The pilot project is based on equipping the line and vehicles with ETCS Level 2. Highly automated driving in the Stuttgart area is the pilot project for the rollout of this pioneering technology across the entire rail network.

The ATO GoA2 overall functionality acts like a kind of remote cruise control: The track tells the train when it should be at which location via so-called timing points. The trackside ATO system (ATO centre) consists of several components that provide the on-board system with journey profiles and segment profiles, among other things.

The on-board ATO system (ATO-OB) can then use this information to determine optimum journey profiles. These journey profiles are executed as soon as the on-board ETCS provides a movement authority and ATO GoA2 has been activated by the train driver. The driving profile provided by the ATO centre enables timetables to be adhered to more precisely, thus reducing delays.

Train drivers always retain responsibility for safety: they are on board, monitor the journey, can intervene and switch to manual operation.

The safety-relevant ETCS communication will initially still be handled via the dedicated GSM-R railway mobile radio network. The public mobile network (4G/5G public) is being used for the transmission of ATO data in the pilot project. In the future, all communication will run via FRMCS (Future Railway Mobile Communication System).

Calculation of driving profile

If a train is delayed, ATO runs at the maximum permitted speed, which is specified and monitored by ETCS. During scheduled operation, ATO specifies a driving profile that saves as much energy as possible. If a train is too early, ATO reduces the speed in order to return to the scheduled running profile; this also saves energy. ATO enables high-precision stops at platforms. 

Videos

ATO_GoA2_Film_UT_Eng.mp4

Video transcript

We will pilot and introduce the latest innovations

and technologies of the railway system

here at Stuttgart station.

This requires the integration of innovative technologies

into the railway system,

which need to interact seamlessly.

In the Digital Node Stuttgart,

we will roll out these digital technologies

across approximately 500 km.

What are these digital technologies?

ETCS (European Train Control System),

ATO (Automatic Train Operation),

CTMS (Capacity & Traffic Management System).

In the ATO GoA2 pilot project in the Digital Node Stuttgart,

we will introduce ATO GoA2 in a major node

for the first time.

This means: Over 500 vehicles will be equipped

for regional and S-Bahn traffic

and will then extensively operate with ATO GoA2.

At the end of the day,

the trains should run more punctually,

more energy-efficiently,

and ultimately improve overall traveler comfort.

Ultimately, ATO controls the trains completely,

to ensure they start optimally,

travel at the optimal speed on the track,

and come to a precise stop at the platform.

All this still with the train driver in the cab,

who retains responsibility, but these systems essentially

manage the entire journey of the train.

For the introduction of ATO GoA2,

we will need technical components both in the vehicle

and on the track.

In addition to the ETCS-equipment, an ATO-component

and a so-called ATO-Engage-Button will be installed.

Systems developed by Deutsche Bahn,

such as CTMS (Capacity & Traffic Management System)

and Digital Register (DR), are already being utilized

with the introduction of ATO GoA2.

The ATO control center continuously sends timetable

and route information to the trains.

Therefore, it is crucial to ensure

sufficient radio coverage along the route,

currently achieved through the public mobile network

according to European standards.

After the introduction of the

Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS),

this 5G-based communication system will be used.

The vehicle-side ATO component calculates

the optimal driving speed based on received data.

At the station, the ATO-guided train

stops at the designated stopping point,

known as the precision stop.

The train driver manages door control,

initiates the train's onward journey,

and switches back to ATO driving mode

by pressing the ATO-Engage-Button.

Today, we can simulate new systems for railway operations

using serious gaming to address

specific operational situations

and test them for operational use.

Based on the gained insights we have implemented

rules in regulations in collaboration with infrastructure

and transport companies.

In the Digital Node Stuttgart,

we aim to make rail transport more reliable

and efficient with the use of ATO GoA2,

just like in Hamburg.

My name is Pascal Mundt.

I work as a train driver at S-Bahn Hamburg

and have been trained on ETCS with ATO since November 2022.

The great advantage of driving under ATO is

hat the train starts independently,

optimizes speed energy regulation,

and stops precisely at the designated stopping point.

Furthermore, the ETCS display shows me

when I will reach the next stop.

The train driver still performs tasks

such as vehicle setup and takedown,

platform observation, and route monitoring.

I am, of course, happy and proud to be one of the first

to have completed training for ETCS under GoA2.

With the introduction of ETCS in the Digital Node Stuttgart,

ATO GoA2 will undergo operational testing.

Regular operation will then be gradually introduced.

In the first step, S-Bahn and regional trains

will be equipped with this technology.

In the long term, long-distance traffic

will also benefit from it.

Digitale Schiene Deutschland collaborates across industries

and countries with various partners

to achieve this goal.

his will make rail operations future-proof.

We are convinced that driving with ATO GoA2

will increase reliability in rail operations.

High-automated driving at the Digital Node Stuttgart

How does high-automated driving work in railway operations, and what technologies are specifically used? As part of the pilot project "High-automated Driving at the Digital Node Stuttgart," experts from DB InfraGO/Digitale Schiene Deutschland and other DB employees provide insights into the technical and operational implementation and the project's goals.

Specialist articles

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