Automated Train Operation Demonstrated on ETCS Mainline

Siemens Mobility has conducted the first demonstration of automated train operation on a mainline railway equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) in the Nordic region. The test took place on the 19-kilometer route between Juurikorpi and Hamina in Finland and demonstrated the integration of Automatic Train Operation (ATO) with ETCS Level 2 signalling.

The trial used a modernized train owned by Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy and operated by VR-Yhtymä Oyj.

ATO Integrated with ETCS Level 2
The demonstration implemented semi-automatic train operation at Grade of Automation 2 (GoA2), where automated systems control acceleration, braking and stopping while a driver supervises operations.

During the test runs, the train performed automated stops from 100 km/h with stopping precision between 30 and 80 centimeters. The system also demonstrated controlled braking and smooth acceleration under automated supervision.

The trials validated stable interaction between ETCS Level 2 signalling and onboard ATO systems in real operational conditions on a mainline railway.

Role of ETCS in Digital Railway Systems
ETCS is a standardized signalling and train control system used across Europe. It continuously supervises train speed and movement authority, replacing fragmented national signalling systems with a unified standard.

When combined with ATO, the system automates operational tasks such as traction control, coasting and braking. This integration can improve traffic flow, optimize energy consumption and increase network capacity.

Finland’s Digirail Modernization Program
The demonstration forms part of Finland’s Digirail initiative, a nationwide railway modernization program led by the Finnish Ministry of Transport. The program aims to replace legacy signalling technologies with ETCS across the national rail network.

In 2024, Siemens Mobility secured two contracts supporting this initiative, including the installation of ETCS onboard units for test trains. These units enable communication between trains and trackside systems, forming the basis for advanced train control capabilities.

Cloud-Based Signalling Infrastructure
Siemens Mobility is also responsible for modernizing the first commercial section of the Tampere–Pori/Rauma line using its Signaling X platform. The system is designed as a cloud-ready, virtualized signalling architecture that operates on commercial off-the-shelf hardware.

The first segment of the upgraded signalling infrastructure is scheduled to enter operation in 2029. The modernization is expected to increase network capacity, improve operational reliability and support safer rail transport across Finland’s national railway system.

Edited by Industrial Journalist, Romila DSilva – AI Powered