WHILE dates for the launch of autonomous cars recede into the future and car manufacturers join forces to ramp up their already considerable investment in electric and autonomous vehicles, rail is quietly making important advances in the development of driverless and eventually autonomous trains.

As we report this month, Rio Tinto completed the transition to full automatic driverless operation of its entire heavy-haul rail system in the Pilbara region of Western Australia on June 14 making it the world’s first fully-automated mainline rail network. 

While the AutoHaul project took longer and cost more than expected, it is a major step towards automating mainline railways. Full automation is already reaping benefits for Rio Tinto in terms of lower operating costs, shorter journey times, and greater reliability – vital for a company in a highly-competitive market. It is also improving the efficiency of scheduling, helping to eliminate bottlenecks on the network, and boosting productivity.