Autonomous Train Market Forecasts to 2028 – Global Analysis By Train Type (Light Rail, Metro/Monorail, High-Speed Rail/Bullet Train), Technology (Automatic Train Control (ATC), Automatic Train Operation (ATO)) and By Geography

Autonomous Train Market Forecasts to 2028 – Global Analysis By Train Type (Light Rail, Metro/Monorail, High-Speed Rail/Bullet Train), Technology (Automatic Train Control (ATC), Automatic Train Operation (ATO)) and By Geography

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Autonomous Train Market is accounted for $7,865.14 million in 2021 and is expected to reach $13,133.86 million by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period. Autonomous trains, also known as driverless trains, are operated automatically without any human intervention, and are monitored from the control station. In case of any obstacle incurred in the route, a message is sent to operational control center and to the attendant on the train, to stop the train. In comparison to manually controlled trains, autonomous trains have improved acceleration capabilities, enhanced system efficiency, and reduced ongoing operational costs while providing consistent train speed and safety.

Market Dynamics:

Driver:

Increasing electrification and automation of the transportation industry

The increasing electrification and automation of the transportation industry is one of the key factors driving the growth of the market. Autonomous trains are integrated with advanced systems that provide improved control over stopping, departure and movement of the locomotive between stations. They also offer automatic and sensor-based opening and closing of doors to enhance passenger safety and convenience. Moreover, the rising demand for safe, secure, and efficient transport systems is providing a thrust to the market growth. Autonomous trains run on ground and underground levels and are highly secured by walls and fences to prevent trespassing and fatalities.

Restraint:

Concerns regarding hacking

The possibility of hacking and the high cost of the autonomous train are the major restraints for the growth of the autonomous train technology market.

Opportunity:

Digitalization and urbanization

Digitalization and urbanization are some of the megatrends that are redefining the utilisation of energy in the transportation sector. Connectivity, analytics, shared mobility, and mobility-as-a-service system within rail mode are some of the upcoming trends. Digitalization has been at the forefront in reducing the distance and time between trains with intensive exploitation of tracks eventually providing better end-user experience while maintaining safety standards. The rail transport system is playing a pivotal role in moving passengers and freight amidst the high demand and heavily used routes. Closed and secured lines are already witnessing the deployment of the automated rails.

Threat:

Lack of proper infrastructure

As the market is still in a nascent stage, the need for huge investments for R&D of the equipment is anticipated to be the major challenge for the growth of the market. Lack of proper infrastructure is also hindering the market growth during the forecast period.

The passenger train segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period

Rail is considered as 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 efficient transport is increasing from consumers across the world highlighting importance of adoption of advanced technology-based transport i.e., autonomous trains for commuting purpose. 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.

The GOA 4 (unattended train operation) segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The GOA 4 (unattended train operation) segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the GOA 4 segment is driven by various ongoing/upcoming projects across the globe. In these projects, the government plays the major role of budget allocation for infrastructure development and deployment of driverless trains. Low electricity consumption, less wear & tear of components, and more passenger room would also drive the market for GOA 4 trains.

Region with largest share:

Asia Pacific is projected to hold the largest market share as the region has one of the largest rail networks across the world owing to the presence of major countries, such as India, China, and Japan. Public transportation is also very popular in these countries, such as in India, where people often travel by metro for daily commuting. Due to this, the railway network plays a very significant role in the economic development of countries in Asia Pacific. The market growth in the region can also be attributed to the increasing infrastructural development, increase in government spending on the transportation sector, and ongoing/upcoming projects in various countries. The increased levels of automation and demand for efficient and safe transportation are other factors expected to drive the market for autonomous trains.

Region with highest CAGR:

Europe is projected to have the highest CAGR due to the urban population growth, increased comfort and safety concerns, increased budget allocations for the development of railway systems and infrastructure, and continuous research and development in the automation technology.

Key players in the market

Some of the key players profiled in the Autonomous Train Market include Siemens, Hitachi, General Electric, Thales Group, ABB, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Deutsche Bahn, Bharat Forge, Alstom, Tech Mahindra Ltd, Calamp, CRRC, and CAF.

Key developments:

In September 2021: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering partnered with Dubai Metro and Dubai tram in a joint venture with Keolis. It successfully began operations of Dubai metro, a fully automated driverless rail system. The services are operated through Keolis-MHI Rail Management Operation LLC (Keolis-MHI).

In August 2021: Siemens Mobility was awarded a contract to design, install, and commission the first Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology for Malaysia and Singapore cross-border link trains. The company also announced plans to deliver the CBTC system for the Brazilian metro line in May 2021.

In August 2021: Hitachi Rail STS (Ansaldo) entered an agreement with the Thales Group to acquire the Ground Transportation System business of the Thales Group company. As a result of this agreement, Hitachi Rail is expected to drive growth by expanding the scale of its rail signaling systems business and further advance its rail automation systems business globally.

In May 2021: Kawasaki Heavy Industries launched the new remote track monitoring services in North America equipped with information and communications technology. This system is expected to improve trackside efficiency and deal with any irregularities for the safety of trains and passengers.

In January 2021: Alstom completed the acquisition of Bombardier Transportation, thereby, creating a competitive manufacturer on a global scale in mobility and rail transport, moving toward greener transportation globally.

Components Covered:
Antenna
Accelerometer
Optical Sensors & Camera
Tachometer
Radio Set
LiDAR Module
Doppler
Odometer

Train Types Covered:
Light Rail
Metro/Monorail
High-Speed Rail/Bullet Train

Grades of Automation (GOA) Covered:
GOA 1 (Manual Train Operation)
GOA 2 (Semi-Automatic Train Operation)
GOA 3 (Driverless Train Operation)
GOA 4 (Unattended Train Operation)

Technologies Covered:
Automatic Train Control (ATC)
Automatic Train Operation (ATO)
Automatic Train Protection (ATP)
Communication Based Train Control (CBTC)
European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS)
Positive Train Control (PTC)

Applications Covered:
Freight Train (Mining)
Passenger Train

Regions Covered:
North America
US
Canada
Mexico
Europe
Germany
UK
Italy
France
Spain
Rest of Europe
Asia Pacific
Japan
China
India
Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
Rest of Asia Pacific
South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Rest of South America
Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Qatar
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:
- Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
- Covers Market data for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025, and 2028
- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:
All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:
Company Profiling
Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)
SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)
Regional Segmentation
Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the client's interest (Note: Depends on feasibility check)
Competitive Benchmarking
Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances