Parallel Systems and Genesee & Wyoming short line Heart of Georgia Railroad this week began the first phase of testing of Parallel’s autonomous, battery-electric flat car.
The initial round of testing of Parallel’s container car is being conducted near Glenwood, Ga., in conjunction with the Federal Railroad Administration. The equipment has already been put through extensive testing at the MxV Rail test facility in Pueblo, Colo.
The first phase of the pilot program is designed to test the empty rail vehicle and its associated computer and telemetry systems.
“We are excited to share that earlier this week we launched our first FRA approved commercial pilot in partnership with Genesee & Wyoming Inc.,” Los Angeles-based Parallel said in a LinkedIn post. “This represents an important milestone for Parallel — the world’s first autonomous battery electric rail system. It is also a milestone for the rail industry and a leap forward for America’s transportation infrastructure.”
Ultimately, the program aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the system, show that it can safely run alongside conventional equipment, and demonstrate the short-haul movement of intermodal containers on the HOG as well as sister short line Georgia Central Railway.
G&W is supporting the development of the Parallel equipment to compete with short-haul trucking for container shipments moving between the burgeoning Port of Savannah, Ga., and inland points.
“If their self-propelled rail vehicles prove safe and effective, we see potential to reinvigorate rail traffic on some of our more rural lanes in Georgia that are today dominated by truck,” G&W said in a LinkedIn post.
G&W once ran short-haul intermodal service between the port and a small terminal at Cordele, Ga., on the HOG. But the service was not competitive and the terminal has been dormant since 2017.
The first phase of testing involves an isolated, two-mile section of track on the Heart of Georgia that’s free of grade crossings.
Phase two will be expanded to a 30-mile section of the HOG. Testing will be performed under track warrants with no other rail operations present and all public grade crossings protected by flaggers.
Phases three and four will operate over an 84-mile section of track between Vidalia and Cordele on the Heart of Georgia and will include tests under track warrant control as well as in yard limits. The HOG-Norfolk Southern diamond at Milepost 610.7 will be protected by derails.
The fifth phase of testing will incorporate updated hardware and will involve the first use of containers on the Parallel cars on a 30-mile section of the Heart of Georgia, between Vidalia and just east of Helena.
Testing ramps up in phases six and seven and will operate over a 160-mile section of the Heart of Georgia and Georgia Central.
“Phase Six operations are intended to evaluate the operational effectiveness of the System in field conditions operating intermixed with conventional rail service as governed by the railroad dispatchers and operating rules. Containers containing test weights will be transported on the Vehicle,” the companies’ test application says.
In this phase, grade crossings will rely on regular protection without flaggers. But as in earlier phases a vehicle supervisor with a stop control will monitor all operations.
The final phase will evaluate platooning with loaded containers. “A limited number of revenue containers may be moved in Phase Seven, allowing for an assessment of damage-in-transit, to compare this unique new technology with direct truck competition. Otherwise, containers will carry test load weights,” the application says.
As noted in another post, someone still has to come out and flip the switch to get the container into the customer siding.
No, they don’t. That part of the operation will be quite simple to automate.
A Solution looking for a Problem. Solving World Hunger. Meanwhile, intramotev.com has produced an incremental solution to an existing problem.
It seems G and W has defined the problem. They have a moribund container site they hope to reopen if these cars work out. To me, that seems exciting. I was impressed that they have already done extensive testing at the Pueblo, CO location. I’m cheering for them.