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A specially designed autonomous train operated by Czech technology firm AŽD Praha carried its first passengers on Friday. Touted as the first of its kind in Europe, the train traveled on a regional line in the Hradec Králové Region, running without any intervention from a driver during autonomous segments of the journey.
The train, nicknamed EDITA (short for Experimental Railway Vehicle for Innovative AŽD Technologies), is a heavily modified Class 810 railcar equipped with sensors, cameras, lidar, and a European Train Control System (ETCS), allowing it to detect and respond to obstacles independently.
Although a human operator remains onboard, their role is limited to monitoring systems, engaging the vigilance control button as required by regulation, and managing train doors at stations.
During the maiden passenger journey, the train was briefly halted when the onboard driver failed to press the vigilance button while explaining the system to reporters. The ETCS safety mechanism triggered an automatic stop.
A technological leap with EU-backed innovation
The EDITA train’s autonomous route currently runs on a section of track owned by AŽD Praha between Kopidlno and Dolní Bousov. The company has invested over CZK 200 million into modifying the line, while an additional CZK 120 million in funding came from the European Union.
The train’s core features include two front-mounted cameras—one wide-angle for environmental awareness—and multiple sensors for obstacle detection. The lidar system scans the track for potential hazards, such as animals or debris, and determines whether the train should slow down, sound a horn, or come to a complete stop.
A large display inside the train’s passenger car shows a live feed from the front camera along with real-time data from the lidar and other onboard systems. Passengers can view the train’s speed, direction, upcoming stations, and sensor performance, offering a window into the automated processes guiding the journey.
Currently, full autonomy is only possible along specific segments of the route. Manual control is still required when coupling or decoupling train cars and repositioning the train within station areas. Future software and hardware updates may allow more extensive automation, including tasks like door control and car shunting.
Next steps and future expansion
The public will have more opportunities to ride the autonomous train as of this weekend, as AŽD plans to operate passenger trips on the first weekend of every month starting April 5-6.
During the summer holiday season, the train will run daily between Kopidlno and Dolní Bousov, with fully autonomous operation planned for the first week of July and the first week of August.
While the EDITA train is currently a test for experimental technologies, Czech officials hope its success will pave the way for wider adoption.
“This is a crucial step for the future of transport,” Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka, who attended the debut run, told reporters. “We’ve already made progress with autonomous vehicles on roads—rail is the next frontier.”
Jiří Svoboda, director of the Czech Railway Infrastructure Administration, echoed that sentiment and compared autonomous trains to autopilots in aviation. He anticipates that, within five to ten years, similar systems could be deployed along Czechia’s main railway corridors, albeit still with staff present on board.
For more information about EDITA and its travels this summer season, visit the line's official website.
