Czech driverless train crashes into open track

Europe’s First Driverless Train Takes the Czech Rail Line

The Czech Republic’s AZD company has piloted “Edita,” a fully autonomous train on the 24‑kilometre track that links two northern towns. Since April, the train has travelled more than 1,700 kilometres carrying passengers in a setting that includes level crossings and wildlife.

How Edita Operates

• Autonomous controls: Cameras, lasers, satellite navigation and a digital map allow Edita to manage traction, braking and speed without human input.
• Obstacle detection: The train’s sensors identify animals and other hazards, automatically slowing down and alerting the crew.
• Human supervision: Current Czech legislation requires a driver on board to oversee the operation, although the train’s progress is largely independent.

Project Highlights

• Track history: The line was abandoned in 2010, but AZD purchased and resurrected it six years ago.
• Investment: AZD invested 320 million Czech koruna ($15 million), with one‑third funded by the EU.
• Testing strategy: The company uses Edita sparingly, often to trial new equipment, while the train’s crew includes a conductor and data specialists.

First Driverless Train in an Open Environment

Explaining the novelty, AZD developer Michal Novak noted that many autonomous vehicles operate on closed tracks—underground or between airport terminals— but Edita is the first to navigate an open landscape where animals may appear at level crossings.

Future Outlook

Passenger Radka Globanova observed the track from a screen inside the carriage and said, “Autonomous trains definitely have a future. I think progress will be really fast as artificial intelligence is being developed. There are autonomous trains, autonomous cars—why not?”