Do you think this will this happen? ......loose carloads

[TH&B]

Check this out, it is not in English but the pictures should give you an idea...
http://w4.siemens.de/FuI/de/archiv/pof/heft2_02/artikel29/index.html

Basicaly it is a self propelled single rail car that can operate driverless on main lines between passenger train pathes from siding to siding for delivery without being in a roadswicher type train. It is driverless computer controled with video camera. For the long haul it can be coupled into a regular freight ((this one is with European couplers)) and towed with it's transmision in neutral.

I find it interesting but I wonder if it is too far out.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 440cuin

Check this out, it is not in English but the pictures should give you an idea...
http://w4.siemens.de/FuI/de/archiv/pof/heft2_02/artikel29/index.html

Basicaly it is a self propelled single rail car that can operate driverless on main lines between passenger train pathes from siding to siding for delivery without being in a roadswicher type train. It is driverless computer controled with video camera. For the long haul it can be coupled into a regular freight ((this one is with European couplers)) and towed with it's transmision in neutral.

I find it interesting but I wonder if it is too far out.

You never know what the Europeans will do, but as far as trying this out in the U.S. I'd say it is definitely too far out withot massive changes and who will pay for that?

LC

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that the technology is also out there to run airplanes without pilots, but it's all going to come down to what the public feels safe with.

....I know I would still have reservations about getting on an airplane with no pilot.

[TH&B]

Ooops I just noticed it was in Engli***oo.

[Overmod]

Average readers of this list will enjoy this version better:

http://w4.siemens.de/FuI/en/archiv/pof/heft2_02/artikel29/index.html

I might mention that very little about this approach is particularly 'new', except that the networks needed for communications and PTC (in the Siemens example, ETCS) are now cost-effective. Carnegie-Mellon, for example, has a long history of sensor-fusion development for 'autonomous vehicles' in much more demanding contexts.

Lest anyone be concerned that this somehow spells the end of engineers on freight trains, remember that this project has nothing more advanced in theory than was around at the end of the 1980s. I don't think you need to look much further than the "70m" effective range of the triangulating sensor radar, and the "90kph" speed, to see a fundamental disconnect with North American braking distances -- or the relative fragility of North American track if braking effectiveness is "appropriately" increased (e.g. via electromagnetic track brakes of fearsome power). It's a useful technical development, and probably appropriate in its place, but requires quite a bit more systems programming to be a replacement even for simple moves.

And yes, I wouldn't expect to see an unattended freight-train move over a regular Class 1 or even short line any time soon -- doesn't take long to imagine the response of plaintiff's bar to the idea, not to mention how much fun the 21st-century followers of the Conrail Boyz would have with a freight train that comes obediently to a stop when it detects a "canister" on the rails ahead... with nobody on board to fend off a subsequent looting...

I'm also firmly of the belief that current North American design approaches to PTC are not very likely to facilitate unattended train operations. Which is perhaps a good thing, if not an intended one.

[Anonymous]

This is a idea that is long overdue. This could get rid of hump yards if the cars could sort themselves. But as I have said before on other forums the FRA is against anything that would give the railroads a unfair avantage over other modes of transport. The FRA blockaded Lighter Passenger cars,2 man crews and Remote Control Locomotives for years.

[CSXrules4eva]

Hey this looks and sounds pretty cool. But in the states I don't think the Surface Transportation Board will approve. Espually since some railroads are having some safety trouble with the romote control units. In Europe when it comes to invoations in rail infastructre, it seems as if they're one step ahead of us.

[Anonymous]

That thing looks like it would belong in the circus, atleast to me it does.

[Anonymous]

I can see this thing in very unique, dedicated applications on dedicated track with no grade crossings and minimal interconnectivity. I can't see it anywhere else in the foreseeable future for reasons generally already discussed by others. One only has to look as far as Airtrans and the StarrCar to see how difficult it is to build in any reasonable level of control at high speed for a large fleet of individual, freely-routed vehicles on a very complex network (which also would be required to be entirely automated). Maybe later......much later.