Siemens Mobility, in partnership with Deutsche Bahn and other industry partners, has demonstrated one of its Mireo trains, which has been modified for fully automated operation.

The technical feasibility was demonstrated through a fully automated deployment and stabling of the train.

This process included sending a command to the train to start, prepare the train for autonomous operation, conduct stipulated self-test procedures, and travel without a driver from the depot to the departure station. Whilst in motion, the train will also detect obstacles and react appropriately.

The Automated Train project brings together automatic train operation, signalling based on the European Train Control System (ETCS), intelligent vehicle control systems, and technologies to recognise the surrounding environment.

Obstacles on the track are detected by sensor systems, which allow the train to react automatically.

The system is based on AVVO (Advanced Vital Vehicle Operation), which controls selected safety-critical functions and executes operational processes automatically, and includes functions to control vehicle preparation, direction of travel, braking, monitoring safe train movement, and secure communication with the control centre.

If the system malfunctions, the train is automatically brought to a safe state.

In addition to testing the system, Siemens worked with its partners to set the requirements for future fully automated rail systems and incorporated them as technical solutions on the train.

The European Union, through its German Recovery and Resilience Plan, co-funded the project, which showed that the vision of a fully automated train operating on open rail networks is technically feasible.

In 2025, Siemens started production of hydrogen-powered trains for operation on the Südostbayernbahn network in Germany, and  61 Mireo Plus B battery-powered trains for use on the Northern Westphalia Network.

“What we are seeing here is the future of mobility. Research is being carried out here into how fully automated trains can be deployed in the future. Driverless train services offer opportunities – particularly in times of a skills shortage – to continue to operate rail routes reliably in the future and to deploy trains more flexibly. The project also demonstrates just how much promising and profitable work can emerge from Germany as a centre of research when industry, infrastructure companies and academia work together to shape the future.”

Johannes Steiniger, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy: