SmarTram - Paving the way for autonomous trams

Autonomous driving is no longer a promise for the future - the technology has already found its way into subway and metro systems. However, the requirements for streetcar operation are different: no alternative lane, fixed lane guidance, heavy mixed traffic with cyclists and pedestrians. This is precisely where the SmarTram research project comes in: Under the leadership of HÖRMANN Vehicle Engineering GmbH and in cooperation with CVAG, IABG and FusionSystems, technologies are being developed that make autonomous streetcar travel in local public transport possible and safe.

Research meets practice: how the project went

Since the start of the project in October 2022, a Tatra railcar has been technically upgraded and intensively tested at the CVAG depot in Chemnitz. The aim was not only laboratory validation, but also the transfer of research into realistic operating conditions - with all the challenges that streetcar operation entails.

What was achieved?

The tests to date show concrete, practical progress:

• Reliable detection of obstacles, signals and traffic signs
• Automated flashing, braking and precise stopping at stops
• Autonomous journeys on closed-off depot sections as a successful test case

These results prove the point: Combination of sensor systems, driving control and software-based decision logic works, at least in controlled areas: robust and reproducible.

Why this is important

Trams have special conditions compared to buses or cars: fixed routes, high passenger capacities and close interaction with urban traffic. Technologies that reliably detect obstacles and react precisely can make operations safer and more efficient - for example through smoother driving, optimized braking and greater predictability in traffic.

Public interest and next steps

The SmarTram consortium attracted considerable media interest at the most recent meeting (including MDR Sachsen, Freie Presse, TAG24, Sachsen Fernsehen). The media response underlines the relevance of the topic for public transport operators and the public. Building on the tests to date, the next tasks are:

Extended field tests in mixed traffic (under controlled conditions)

Scaling of the sensor and control architecture for line operation

Integration into existing operating processes and legal reviews

Conclusion

SmarTram demonstrates how regional research, industry expertise and municipal transport operations can work together to make autonomous streetcars practicable. The successes to date show this: With careful technology development and step-by-step testing, the path to safe, autonomously supported streetcar mobility can be paved.

Find out more about the project and a detailed article from MDR Sachsen here: https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/chemnitz/autonom-strassenbahn-se…