Follow me ... discreetly
Follow me ... discreetly
Here, two trains travel one behind the other at a distance from 15 to 80 metres. The individual cars are not mechanically coupled but connected only digitally. For this to work, the train sections must continuously communicate with each other and exchange highly accurate data about their respective position and speed. This virtual coupling is no small feat, given that trains in regular operation often have a braking distance of several hundred metres to a kilometre, marking a major step towards automated rail transport. As part of the FP2-R2DATO project, the DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation has developed a new type of radio system for virtual coupling. It was successfully tested in spring 2025 at the Dutch state railway's test site in Amersfoort, the Netherlands.
The project is funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. The FP2-R2DATO project is supported by Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking and its members.
