Oleg Belozerov, the general director of JSC Russian Railways, outlined an ambitious plan to introduce unmanned trains. This update came through RIA News. He stated that the initiative aims to advance to the fourth automation level on the domestic platform, with the system being deployed once all testing phases are complete and security approvals are secured. The emphasis on the fourth level means trains would be operated with remote supervision, enabling centralized decision-making while reducing on-board crew requirements.
In addition to autonomous driving, Belozerov noted ongoing development of a domestically produced analogue of the Lastochka trains, signaling a push to expand Russia’s rail technology base with homegrown designs. This aligns with broader efforts to diversify vehicle platforms and bolster domestic manufacturing in the rail sector, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
Earlier moves in Moscow demonstrated progress toward a fully interconnected network by testing an LTE-based communications system within the metro, an essential step for supporting unmanned operations and remote control across urban rail corridors. These tests form part of a wider roadmap to enable reliable, high-speed data links for autonomous and remotely supervised trains in dense urban environments.
During the Neva-2023 international exhibition, Sitronics Group president Nikolai Pozhidaev announced that the first unmanned passenger vessels are expected to appear in Russia in 2024. The comments point to a growing trend of unmanned operations extending beyond rail to maritime transport, underscoring the government and industry’s focus on intelligent, automated mobility solutions across multiple transport modes. (Source: Sitronics Group)
Pozhidaev also highlighted that autonomous navigation systems, which have been actively tested on ferries operating between St. Petersburg and nearby routes, could be scaled to navigation tasks along the Northern Sea Route in the future. These developments reflect a strategic aim to expand autonomous capabilities to challenging northern waters, where harsh conditions demand robust, remotely managed vessels and supportive infrastructure.
Previously, Russian Railways indicated that certain on-board activities would be regulated to ensure safety and passenger comfort, including explicit boundaries about the use of musical instruments on trains. This measure illustrates the careful balance between passenger experience, safety, and the operational realities of introducing new automated services into existing networks. (Source: Russian Railways communications)