NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): According to statistics, the global automatic train control market is worth $3.92 billion in 2023. It is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 12.3% to $8.85 billion by 2030. Automatic Train Control (ATC) refers to train protection systems for railways, including a speed control mechanism that responds to external inputs. ATC systems usually integrate various cab signalling techniques and use finer-grained deceleration patterns instead of the prior automatic train stop technique’s inflexible stops. ATO, which can be used in collaboration with ATC, is commonly regarded as the system component requiring the highest level of safety. According to studies conducted by the American Association of Railroads, accidents caused by human factors form the biggest category of train accidents all around the globe. The study says that most of the major train accidents have resulted from manual errors rather than machine failures in a study conducted for rail and metro systems in more than forty-eight countries.
In terms of ATC, one of the most significant market developments at the time was the increasing standardisation of rail signalling technologies. Suppliers can improve standards-based global architectures that provide a dependable foundation for local solution development and the interoperability required to meet local safety standards and requirements. In recent years, China has emerged as a superpower in the high-speed rail network. The communist nation possesses over fifty per cent of all global high-speed rail networks, opening a vast avenue and potential for the ATC market. No wonder the Chinese economy has pounced upon the opportunity and has emerged as one of the major players in the ATC market.
Construction and maintenance expenditures for the track, engineering buildings such as bridges and tunnels, railway signalling, communication systems, power supply in electrified areas, and terminal facilities are all substantial. These infrastructure expenditures and costs associated with equipment, site acquisition, and finance restrain the rolling stock market. Because of increased electrification in the transportation industry, the market for autonomous trains is expected to grow significantly. The advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the transportation sector is a significant market driver for autonomous and self-driven trains. For example, German Rail Corporation and Siemens Mobility developed the first autonomous train for rail traffic. The train is completely automated and runs on digital technology. The train’s driver remains on board to supervise the passengers’ journey.
Interoperability of the train control and management system makes it easier for trains from different locations to communicate. Each national rail network has different technical requirements for rail infrastructure. Differed countries have distinct gauge widths, electrification requirements, and safety and signalling systems. The varied technological requirements raise the cost of running trains across nations.
Since the bulk of mainline railway lines are long and travel through nearly every intersection in the country, the mainline segment is expected to increase rapidly. These trains were designed primarily for long journeys. The mainline trains are also likely to be designed with cutting-edge technologies. Most railway operators utilise ATC for mainline trains because it helps reduce collisions and preserve train routes. The support and maintenance segment is expected to develop at the fastest CAGR over the projected period because organisational contexts are very complex, needing various interconnected IT systems to carry out daily operations. As a result, companies and organisations must update their ATC systems to optimise train operations. The support and maintenance services assist the deployed ATC system within the enterprise’s infrastructure. Round-the-clock troubleshooting assistance, an upgrade of the current ATC solution, proactive services, technical support from professionals, problem-solving, repairs, and test scenario management are all included in the support and maintenance services. The support and maintenance sector provides ATC solutions with 24-hour support along with site evaluations and training.
The Asia-Pacific region is expected to have the highest CAGR over the forecast period, owing to its extensive rail infrastructure. The market for autonomous trains is expected to expand significantly due to the region’s governments, particularly those of China, India, and Japan, increasing their investments in rail infrastructure development. The industry is also expanding rapidly as metro travel becomes increasingly popular as a mode of public transit in India. As a result, the railway network significantly impacts Asia-Pacific economic growth. Cisco, Hitachi, Toshiba, Thales, Tech Mahindra, General Electric, Advantech, Kyosan Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd, MERMEC Inc, MIPRO Electronics, ADLINK Technology Inc, Bombardier, Alstom, Kyosan, Vehicule Automatique Leger, SelTrac, and WSP are some of the key players in the Automatic Train Control market today.
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