SIEMENS Mobility says it has successfully demonstrated the first operation in Finland of a train fitted with automatic train operation (ATO) on a line equipped with ETCS Level 2.
The demonstration took place on the 19km single-track Juurikorpi - Hamina branch line, which has a maximum speed of 100km/h and is electrified at 25kV 50Hz, using a modernised EMU owned by Helsinki Metropolitan Area Rail Equipment (JKOY) and operated by national operator VR.
During the semi-automatic test runs at Grade of Automation 2 (GoA2), the train came to a stand automatically from 100km/h with a precision of 300 to 800mm, while also demonstrating smooth acceleration and controlled braking under ATO supervision. “The test highlighted the seamless interaction between ETCS Level 2 and onboard automation, ensuring stable, repeatable, and efficient operations in real-world mainline conditions,” Siemens says.
ATO complements ETCS by automating key operational tasks like acceleration, coasting, braking, and stopping. “With our technology, our customers can increase capacity by 30%, significantly improve punctuality, and make energy savings of over 30%,” says Marc Ludwig, CEO rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility.
“The testing phase marks a significant step towards automated rail transport,” says Esa Sirkiä, who is responsible for the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s Digirail programme.
ETCS project
Siemens Mobility won two contracts in 2024 under Finland’s Digirail initiative which will implement ETCS nationwide. As part of this, Siemens is equipping, for test purposes, two trains with onboard technology that enables seamless communication between trains and infrastructure.
In addition, Siemens Mobility is modernising the first commercial section (EKA) of the Tampere - Pori/Rauma line using its Signalling X system which is a cloud-ready, virtualised platform that leverages commercial off-the-shelf (Cots) hardware to integrate interlockings, signalling, and control systems into a centralised, virtual data centre. The first section is scheduled to be operational by 2029.
