Market Trends of Autonomous Train Industry
Metro/Monorail Dominating the Global Autonomous Train Market
- Metro/Monorail is dominating the global autonomous train market owing to the increase in an efficient, safe, and affordable mode of transport. The rise in penetration of GoA 4 technology in metro rail is likely to witness major growth for the market. GoA 4 is an unattended train operation (UTO) where starting and stopping, operation of doors, and handling of emergencies are fully automated without any on-train staff.
- Rail is considered one of the safest modes of land transport and more attractive to the customer as this offers a much better service to potential passengers and drives an increase in passenger numbers. The demand for safer and more efficient transport is increasing from consumers across the world, highlighting the importance of the adoption of advanced technology-based transport, i.e., autonomous trains for commuting purposes.
- Growing electrification of metro/monorail due to the enactment of stringent emission norms across the globe is also witnessing major growth for the market. The introduction of connected metro rail is also creating a challenge for the autonomous train market across the globe. Currently, rail has been identified as one of the most energy-efficient transport modes, accounting for 8% of global motorized passenger movements and 7% of freight but consuming only 2% of transport energy.
- Major industries are jointly working on rail projects to develop advanced technology for autonomous metro rail. Latest developments like testing driverless passenger cars are expected to further propel the growth of the market. For instance,
- In May 2023, Mumbai's first underground metro line in India sought safety approval to begin driverless operations after completing Phase 1 (Bandra Kurla Complex to Aarey) by December 2023. In September 2021, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering formed a joint venture with Keolis and Mitsubishi Corp for a new concession of Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram.
- In March 2021, SNCF and its partners tested a prototype in the northern region of Hauts-de-France. The company aims to provide fully automated prototypes running by 2023 and complete the train operation expansion by 2025.
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Asia-Pacific Region Expected to Witness Significant Growth During the Forecast Period
- Asia-Pacific has one of the largest rail networks globally, which is likely to dominate the autonomous train market across the globe. The growing investment by governments across the region, including China, India, and Japan, for rail infrastructure development is likely to witness major growth in the autonomous train market.
- The growing popularity of metro travel as public transportation in India is also witnessing major growth in the market. Due to this, the railway network plays a very significant role in the economic development of countries in Asia-Pacific.
- For instance, in February 2022, the Hangzhou metro expanded significantly by opening two new lines and an extension, adding over 59 route km to the network. In India, the installed base of metro-rail rolling stock is projected to reach 5,458 railcars by 2023, driven by the high demand for commuter transportation in metropolitan cities. Over the period from 2018 to 2023, a total of 3,343 railcars are planned to be added to the metro-rail network.
- Asia-Pacific is also characterized by the presence of both developed and developing economies, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. For instance, The Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) signed a memorandum of understanding with Bombardier Transportation, outlining their collaboration on developing home-grown rail industry expertise over the coming years.
- The Malaysian government ordered 252 driverless vehicles for the Kuala Lumpur metro Line LRT3 from a consortium of Siemens China, CRRC Zhuzhou, and a Malaysian partner, Tegap Dinamik. The government also ordered 108 Innovia Metro 300 vehicles from a consortium of Hartasuma and Bombardier that are likely to be used for Kuala Lumpur's Kelana Jaya Line.
- Major industries are planning to establish rail projects in Asia-Pacific, which is witnessing significant growth in the market. For instance, CRCC also entered into a memorandum of undertsanding (MoU) with the government of Maharashtra, India, for setting up a manufacturing facility in the Multimodal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN). With these players, expansion into the country is likely to boost the development of autonomous trains at a fast pace over the coming years.
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