DB and Alstom test remote depot operations
Deutsche Bahn and Alstom have tested remote-controlled train movements in a Munich depot, using an S-Bahn unit.
The test was run from a remote operations centre, with the train controlled via DB’s 5G campus network and monitored using onboard sensors and cameras.
The companies say the system uses a standard driver interface that can be adapted to different train types, including existing S-Bahn fleets.
Depot-only scope
The trial focuses on depot movements such as shunting and positioning, rather than passenger service or mainline operation.
The companies present this as a way to handle non-revenue movements with fewer staff on the ground and clear supervision from a central location.
Why depots come first
Depot environments are more controlled than open lines, with fewer external interactions and no passenger service to manage during the movement itself.
That makes remote operation easier to trial as an operational tool, before considering automation on the main network.
What to watch: Whether DB and Alstom move from a single test to repeatable depot procedures across additional sites — and whether the approach is extended beyond one S-Bahn unit type.