Hitachi Rail, DB Cargo, and Partners Launch Europe’s First Automated Freight Locomotive

Together with DB Cargo and other partners, Hitachi Rail is setting a new benchmark for the future of European rail freight: for the first time, a DB Cargo locomotive has been equipped with state-of-the-art ATO (Automatic Train Operation) and RTO (Remote Train Operation) technology — a milestone on the path toward an automated, connected, and high-performing freight rail system in Europe.

As the technology partner, Hitachi Rail is supplying the onboard ATO system and overseeing system integration. This underlines the company’s role as a pioneer of digital innovation in the rail sector. The aim is to test automated driving functions under real-world conditions and lay the foundation for a production-ready, marketable solution for automated freight transport — ultimately supporting one of Europe’s key transportation policy goals: shifting more freight to rail.

Trials are scheduled to begin in October 2025 on the Dutch Betuweroute, one of Europe’s most important freight corridors.

“This project exemplifies our ambition to deliver real solutions for the mobility of tomorrow through technological excellence,” says Daniel Stoll, Project Manager at Hitachi Rail in Germany. “Automation is the key to using capacity more efficiently, reducing energy consumption, and making rail freight more attractive, more powerful, and more future-ready overall.”

Launched in November 2022, the project is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. It forms a core part of Hitachi’s commitment to sustainable, digitally connected rail mobility in Europe — and stands as a prime example of how collaborative innovation can drive real change on the rails.