Autonomous Trains Technology Market – Snapshot
Autonomous trains have some level of automation, such as automatic train protection (ATP) and automatic train operation (ATO). Different levels of automation are available in autonomous trains. The fundamental level of train automation includes ATP, ATO, and automatic trains that stop and cruise at speed on their own. Driverless and unattended train operations are examples of greater levels of train automation. Fully autonomous trains, like self-driving cars and automobiles, are experimental.
There are, however, a few trains that are fully autonomous and operational. Autonomous trains are an efficient and cost-effective means of transportation because they emit zero pollution, can move huge cargo, and cover long distances in less time. Autonomous trains go faster over large distances as they have train-to-train and train-to-server communication, allowing them to measure the exact distance between themselves. As a result, the safe distance between two trains travelling on the same track can be efficiently shortened, reducing travel time. This aspect significantly drives the Autonomous Trains Technology Market, along with improved passenger and train safety, by removing accident-causing variables along the train track.
Several train accidents occur each year around the world due to train derailment, which can be avoided by
implementing autonomous technologies such as CBTC (Communication Based Train Control), ERTMS (European Railway Traffic Management System), ATC (Automatic Train Control), and PTC (Positive Train Control). These technologies are dependable and precise in avoiding train accidents. Rising passenger safety concerns are driving the Autonomous Trains Technology Market.
However, the considerable expense necessary to establish infrastructure and develop and manufacture components is majorly constraining the Autonomous Trains Technology Market. The development of advanced electronic components, continuous research and development to introduce advanced technologies, less expensive and more accurate LiDAR technologies and fusion sensors, and increased investment in autonomous technologies will all likely provide lucrative opportunities for the Autonomous Trains Technology Market.
Grade of Automation
Levels 1 and 2 of the Grade of Automation (GoA) have the highest penetration of all levels. The low cost of upgrading trains to this level of automation is boosting demand for the GoA1 and GoA2 levels. Increased concern about passenger safety, a stronger government emphasis on safety and well–managed railway transportation, and reduced time with automation are driving up demand for GoA1 and GoA2
levels. As a result, the segments are likely to account for a sizable portion of the market throughout the forecast period. The introduction of autonomous technology in metro trains is growing and expanding. Metros are a high-speed means of transportation with a wide range of applications in urban passenger transit. Significant growth in urbanisation, an increase in passenger numbers, and a need for connectivity drive demand for metros and other high-speed trains, such as bullet trains. Governments encourage automation in metros and high-speed trains to ensure safe and proper operation. Suburban trains are the most popular means of transportation for connecting urban centres with surrounding rural and suburban areas. The number of passengers utilising suburban trains continually increases, driving up demand for automation in suburban trains.
Different components are required for a fully or partially autonomous train to undertake automated operations. Sensors are essential among the components required to automate the train. In terms of revenue, the Autonomous Trains Technology Market has been dominated by LiDAR modules and optical sensors, owing to the high cost of LiDAR modules and the high number of optical and camera sensors required. However, the cost of a LiDAR module is predicted to fall significantly over the forecast period. Yet, its market size in revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than five per cent throughout the forecast period. A precise railway traffic management system is required to control autonomous and conventional trains’ smooth, accurate, and safe operation. Although several railway traffic management systems have been developed and established, few have proven highly effective and successful. The adoption of these technologies varies by area. Positive railway Control (PTC) technology has been established as standard in North America, with a mandate that all railway tracks must be equipped with a PTC system by December 31, 2018. The European Union has embraced and adopted the European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS) throughout Europe. ERTMS is also in high demand outside Europe. China and numerous nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Pacific have implemented ERTMS on their train routes.
Train automation is becoming increasingly popular in China and Japan. Due to the enormous number of high-speed and automated trains in China, Japan, and Pacific countries, Asia Pacific accounts for a significant portion of the global Autonomous Trains Technology Market. The Chinese government is focusing on creating new high-speed train tracks, with the majority scheduled to be
automated. India has also launched its first driverless train in the capital city, Delhi, and additional autonomous trains are anticipated to be ordered on various other routes. The nation is developing fast, with the first high-speed bullet train project expected to be operational by 2025 between two prominent cities, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, separated by more than five hundred kilometres. The nation is also becoming self-reliant in S-HSR train operations. The indigenously developed semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains are already operational. The first S-HSR Regional Rapid Rail System (RRTS) between Meerut and Delhi is also expected to be operational along its entire route length by next year. The train is planned to run on its priority corridor soon. These developments are helping the Asia Pacific region flourish and will likely maintain its worldwide market leadership during the projected period.
Enhanced government support and backing for train automation, an increase in automation level adoption
and acceptance, and the development of advanced technologies provide numerous prospects for companies working in the Autonomous Trains Technology Market. Thales Group, Alstom S.A., Bombardier Transportation Hitachi Ltd., CRRC Corporation Limited, Ansaldo STS, SIEMENS AG, and Mitsubishi Electric are key global Autonomous Trains Technology Market companies. Alstom
S.A., in France, has also developed an automated freight train in the Netherlands.
The rapid rise of smart cities and increased spending on transport infrastructure by many countries are expected to improve the Autonomous Trains Technology Market’s growth prospects.
The market for autonomous train technology is expected to expand and grow significantly as transportation technology advances worldwide. Rising urbanisation levels and the emergence and development of smart cities in many areas are expected to benefit and help the growth of the autonomous trains technology market.
- Autonomous trains, often known as driverless trains, operate automatically and without human interference. A dedicated control station oversees these trains. The growing demand for stronger transportation mechanisms with the world’s rising population shall provide enormous growth possibilities and prospects for the autonomous trains technology sector.
- The advantages of autonomous train technologies over regular trains in speed and functionality are expected to act as growth drivers for the autonomous train technology market. The growing number of incidents and casualties caused by human error will function as a demand generator for the autonomous train technology market.
- The initiative and effort of various governments to reduce reliance on fossil fuels is expected to help raise the growth rate of the autonomous trains technology market. Additionally, these trains have higher safety standards than traditional trains, further propelling the autonomous trains technology market. Considering the number of initiatives related to public transportation projects and substantial investment in transport infrastructure, developed countries are expected to contribute significantly to expanding the autonomous trains technology market and industry.
- The COVID-19 pandemic harmed the railroad sector. Due to the pandemic, most rail and metro services globally were put on hold. The lockdown and interim ban on the railroad sector created a problem for the market for autonomous trains. The lockdown restrictions imposed by many countries owing to the rapid transmission capabilities of the COVID-19 virus affected the growth of the autonomous trains technology market. The epidemic also led to a significant increase in personal transportation. However, with gradual control over the disease, the train market started to expand and reinstate its original state amidst growing worries about pollution and the demand for public transit and carpooling.
The Autonomous Trains Technology Market has been segmented as follows:
| S. No | Topic/issue | Sub-type/Example |
| Grade | • GoA1 + GoA2• GoA3• GoA4 | |
| Train Type | • Long Distance Train• Suburban• Tram• Monorail• Subway/Metro | |
| Components | • RADAR Module• Optical sensor & camera• Odometer • Anteena• LiDAR Module• Infrared Camera• Others | |
| Technology | • CBTC • ERTMS• ATC • PTC | |
| Region/Sub-Region/Country | • North America– U.S – Canada• Europe– Germany – U.K- France – Italy- Spain – Russia- Rest of Europe• Asia Pacific– China – India- Japan – ASEAN- Rest of Europe• Middle East & Africa– GCC- South Africa- Rest of Middle East & Africa• Latin America– Brazil- Mexico- Rest of Latin America |
Automatic Train Control Market Analysis
Over the projected duration of 2023 to 2030, the Automatic Train Control Market is expected to grow and develop at a CAGR of 12.3 per cent. Developing government support through funding and financial assistance for constructing and developing technologically advanced trains drives and pushes the automatic train control market globally. Additionally, growing and enhanced demands for pollution mitigation and safety, hyper-urbanisation, high demographic growth, technological advancements for improving passenger convenience, and the rising trend of smart cities are among the prominent factors driving the global automatic train control market over the forecast period.
The support and maintenance segment is expected to grow during the forecast period. The support and maintenance services assist the installed ATC system within the firm’s infrastructure. Troubleshooting assistance, problem-solving, repairing, replacing old components, upgrading the existing ATC solution, and testing scenario management, including facility inspection and training, are all part of the support and maintenance services.
The growing standardisation of rail signalling solutions is one of the most significant trends affecting the market today. Standardisation enables suppliers to improve core, standards-based global architectures, allowing the interoperability required to meet local safety obligations and giving a common, reliable platform for creating local solutions.
Concerning its high-speed rail network, China is expected to generate a lucrative potential for the ATC market. China owns more than half of the world’s total HSR route length.
Countries such as India, where Metro rail is expected to account for more than 70 per cent of the railway
market, have permitted a hundred per cent foreign direct investment in new rail sectors such as suburban corridors, high-speed train systems and freight line projects implemented through a public-private partnership.
SIL4 Systems, based in the United States, develops onboard embedded control systems that enable automated train protection (ATP) and automatic train control (ATC). The organisation offers a dual-purpose platform with an event recorder and ATP and ATC support. It also includes twin WiFi, GPS, 3G, and dual Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) connectors for vehicle communications.
Several Chinese groups, companies and suppliers are receiving projects outside China, while a group of smaller competitors is competing for sections of each rail transport project, forming a congestion-ridden and competitive market. Systems that meet the European Rail Traffic Management
System (ERTMS) and Communication-Based Traffic Control (CBTC) standards have significant potential.
Nonetheless, the high initial investment and the requirement for frequent maintenance may limit the
growth of the global automatic train control market in the coming years. However, the rising demand for autonomous trains in densely populated Asian economies such as China and India will keep the automatic train control market humming in the coming years.
Automatic Train Control Industry Segmentation
Automatic train control (ATC) is a broad category that includes railway train protection systems comprising a speed control mechanism that responds to external inputs for train protection. ATC systems typically incorporate different cab signalling mechanisms and use more granular deceleration patterns than the inflexible and static stops encountered with conventional automatic train stop technology. ATC can also be used with automatic train operation (ATO) and is typically regarded as the system’s most important safety component. The Grades of Automation (GoA) system of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) defines the degree of automation based on the level of responsibility assigned to the train control system.
Mainline Trains to Propel the Market Growth of Automatic Train Supervision
The growing demand for efficient and effective mainline railway operations, including passenger and freight trains, propels the market for automatic train supervision. To deal with problems and emergencies, the automatic train supervision system provides train management features such as automated routing, dispatcher intervention, and train scheduling in passenger train services. Additionally,
the growing digitalisation of passenger services due to internet usage contributes to the market expansion of automatic train supervision. Further, the innovative technologies offered by players in the market to optimise railway operations and service reliability are helping the market for automatic train supervision to grow substantially. In addition, the development of automated trains for enhanced safety and performance is expected to benefit the market for automatic train supervision in the years ahead.
The Asia Pacific to Account for a Substantial Share in the Market for Automatic Train Supervision
The Asia Pacific region’s massive rail network system, combined with demographic growth, is helping the market development of automatic train supervision systems to accelerate. Further, the growing acceptance of technology and government measures promoting metro automation, particularly in Malaysia, China, India and Japan, is driving the market’s steady expansion.
Market Segmentation
Automatic train supervision is a railway control and management system assigned with the
responsibility of centralised monitoring and controlling of train movements to lower and mitigate the effect and impact of train delays on the operating schedule. It also meets the railways’ security requirements. The system comprises track-side equipment and software, equipment rooms, regional control facilities, and onboard trains. By train type, the market for automatic train supervision is
segmented into
• Mainline
– Passenger
– Freight
• Urban
– High Speed
– Metro.
Based on service type, the market is differentiated as:
• Consulting
• System Integration
• Support and Maintenance.
Based on function type, the market is classified as follows:
• Automatic Route Setting
• Link to Passenger Information Display System for Online Information
• Computation of Train Schedules and Timetable
• Automatic Train Regulation
North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa are the regional markets for automatic train supervision.
Expanding Rail Network System to Drive Automatic Train Supervision Market Growth
The automatic train supervision businesses have benefited from growing urbanisation, digitalisation, and substantial growth of rail network services. Government attempts to embrace computer-based solutions for efficient train operations management are catalysing market expansion significantly. With the deployment of i-ATS — the first Made-in-India signalling system — in 2020, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation established an indigenously developed communication-based train control system in India. The Indian government has also developed an Automatic Train Protection system with SIL-4 technology named ‘Kavach’ to be installed across all its route lengths. ‘Kavach’ has been designed and developed by RDSO in collaboration with three Indian vendors indigenously. The automatic train supervision system plays a key role in guaranteeing safety during natural disasters or other unexpected events by detecting problems early through remote monitoring, driving the market growth.
Further, with automated remote routing and supervision, the system helps in the smooth availability of railway services and high-speed train operation management functions, thereby contributing to market growth. Technological improvements in the rail industry, such as train automation and investments made by prominent industry players, are expected to drive market expansion throughout the forecast period.
Automatic Train Control Industry – Conclusion
The market for automatic train control is highly fragmented, involving many key manufacturers, suppliers, and businesses. To expand their footprints in this market, these organisations have used various techniques such as expansions, agreements, new product releases, joint ventures, acquisitions, partnerships, and others for product development. General Electric Company (GE), Hitachi, Bombardier, Siemens, Thales, Kyosan Electric Manufacturing Ltd (Kyosan), Toshiba Corporation (Toshiba), Alstom SA (Alstom), Tech Mahindra, WSP, Cisco Systems (Cisco), Mermec, Advantech, Mipro, and ADLINK Technology are some of the major units and enterprises currently operating in the global automatic train control market.
The increased demand for efficient train operation management drives the global autonomous train
supervision market. The market is predicted to grow at an 11.4% CAGR from 2023 to 2028, aided by technological advancements in railways. Several factors are driving market growth. High statistical growth, higher urbanisation, mechanical advancements for expanding traveller accommodation, and a rising pattern of brilliant urban communities are required to drive the global market. The mainline segment is expected to significantly support the Automatic Train Control (ATC) showcase
development within the forecast time frame.
The market for automatic train supervision is divided into two categories based on train types: mainline and urban. The market is divided into three segments based on service type: consultation, system integration, and support and maintenance. The market is divided into four function types: automatic route Setting, link to passenger information display system for online information, computation of train Schedules and timetables, and automatic train regulation. The key regional markets for automatic train supervision are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Hitachi, Unittec, Toshiba, Traffic Control Technology, Bombardier, CRSC, and Alstom are
the leading organisations in the market.
The term ‘mainline train’ refers to both passenger and freight trains. Mainline trains, for the most part, include extensive routes that span nearly every intersection in the country. These trains are purposefully designed for longer and extended distances. Mainline trains are gradually being outfitted with cutting-edge technology. Most railway administrators use and deploy ATC for mainline trains because it reduces impact while maintaining train routes. Some noticeable market patterns include semi-autonomous and autonomous trains, introducing less expensive and precise lidar improvements, and increasing assignments focused on overhauling and establishing cargo foundations.
Different organisational contexts are usually highly complicated, with various IT frameworks connected
and associated to carry out day-to-day assignments and responsibilities. Therefore, associations’ most recent ATC arrangements need to be modified for better and improved rail activities. The help and support administrations assist the introduced ATC structure within the project’s foundation. The help and upkeep administrations encompass every minute of everyday investigation help, advancement of the present ATC system, critical thinking, repairing, supplanting obsolete segments, proactive services, specialised help by professionals, and test situations on the board.
During the forecast period, the GoA 2 portion of the automation segment is expected to represent and
constitute a significant share of the Global Automatic Train Control (ATC) market. The GoA 2 segment needs to possess the highest and most substantial market share in the ATC market through computerisation. GoA 2 includes semi-computerized train activities. GoA 2-based frameworks provide total ATP and ATO and a training administrator at the control cab.
ATO frameworks manage and control train development by directing train acceleration and deceleration.
The ATP structure and framework direct the train’s development. Under GoA 2, the train administrator monitors trackside conditions in front of the train and is answerable and responsible for closing traveller entryways and operating the train in the event of a disruption.
However, commencing, starting, or halting the train are handled and executed naturally. During the forecast period, the North American region is expected to account for the lion’s share of the Global Automatic Train Control (ATC) Market. North America includes developed economies like the United States (US) and Canada, which contribute considerably to the local market. The early appropriation of advancements and the globalisation of joint administrations in the regions may be considered critical explanations towards considerable businesses of the overall industry.
The solid fiscal condition of the region enables its member nations to invest much in driving ATC arrangements and advancements. The growing number of projects focused on modernising and establishing freight structures and rapid railway lines are key growth drivers for this region. The in-depth analysis of the ATC markets provides the growth potential, upcoming trends and statistics of Automatic Train Control (ATC) market size, forecast and potential. With ATC & ATCS being an integral and mandatory component of rail operations, such studies with industry insights help decision-makers make sound strategic decisions towards efficient and safe passenger and freight travel through rail. Additionally, such studies and research also help to analyse the market drivers and predict the challenges and competitive analysis of the market.
