China’s First Intelligent Heavy-haul Train Launched on the Shenmu-Shuozhou Railway

On October 16, a “3+0” intelligent 10,000-ton heavy-haul train officially began running on the Shenmu-Shuozhou Railway. Combining new technologies such as integrated radio frequency sensing technology, the Internet of Things, cloud computing and next-generation communication technology, the intelligent train marks a major breakthrough in the development of Chinese heavy-haul freight rail and heralds a new stage of intelligent heavy-haul rail development in China.

The launch of the “3+0” intelligent 10,000-ton heavy-haul train created five “firsts” in the world: First, autonomous driving of a 10,000-ton heavy-haul train on a 12/1000 gradient uphill line is achieved, which reduces operating intensity and difficulty for the driver. Second, automatic locomotive operation is achieved, which improves transportation efficiency. Third, automatic shunting operation based on obstacle detection (dual radar + video recognition) and shunting signal protection is achieved, which enhances rail safety. Fourth, based on differential positioning of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, precise control of the locomotive is achieved. Fifth, environmental meteorological information is introduced into the locomotive for the first time to provide reference and decision-making basis for train operation.

The successful operation of the intelligent heavy-haul train on the Shenmu-Shuozhou Railway is a technical revolution in the field of 10,000-ton heavy-haul train operation in China, which will lead the heavy-haul freight railway to the direction of intelligent design. This also indicates that China has been at the forefront of railway development in the world in the field of freight heavy-haul train control.