While crowds of people are squeezing into overcrowded trains during rush hour, some of them remain half-empty outside of rush hours. At the same time, more and more delivery vehicles are on the road in cities – a consequence of the increasing popularity of online shopping. These everyday observations were reason enough to rethink urban goods logistics at LogIKTram: “Instead of sending more and more delivery vehicles onto the city streets, parcels should be transported by tram in the future, with zero emissions,” says Dr. Michael Frey from the Institute for Vehicle System Technology (FAST) at the KIT, speaking on behalf of the project network. After three years of development, the project partners presented their results in the summer of 2024: a converted tram and an autonomous cargo trailer.
The basic idea sounds simple: trams that are not fully loaded and are already traveling through the city transport not only people, but also packages. These are loaded into a special cargo trailer (eTrailer) that automatically enters and exits at stops. However, the project was technically challenging, as Frey explains: “First, we analyzed the structure of the tram. How is a typical tram subdivided? Where would there be space for temporary cargo and how can the load be secured automatically and reliably without endangering passengers? Then we developed and evaluated various interior and safety concepts and finally converted the tram provided.” Since no low-floor train could be taken out of service for the project, the team used an older model with a stair entrance and constructed a plateau to compensate for the height difference for a ground-level entry of the cargo trailer. While Frey and his team were working on the overall vehicle design and automation, the Institute for Transport Studies (IFV) at the KIT took care of the comprehensive simulation of the traffic effects. Accordingly, not only the technical feasibility was important, but also the expected effect on road and rail traffic.
At the heart of the solution is an electric cargo trailer that has been specially modified for the application. “It was a challenge to design and control the eTrailer so that it moves safely and autonomously without disrupting passenger transport or the timetable,” says Frey. Equipped with an intelligent steering control system, the trailer moves into and out of the designated loading area at the regular stops without human intervention. Frey reports proudly: “The loading process takes about 30 seconds – hardly longer than the regular passenger turnaround. The control mechanisms we developed ensure smooth docking with the tram, while an automatic locking mechanism secures the load even during sudden braking.” The eTrailer is then ready for further distribution at the designated stop – either by hand or bicycle courier. In the distant future, it is also conceivable that the trailer could travel fully autonomously to other distribution points or function directly as a packing station.
The multidimensional system between trams, load carriers and freight logistics requires precise automation and seamless integration of hardware and software. To this end, an intelligent information and communication technology (ICT) platform has been developed in the project under the leadership of the partner INIT, which coordinates all processes. It connects transport planning with logistical requirements and ensures that no additional traffic bottlenecks arise. The aim is to use rail vehicles in a broader sense to reduce the number of delivery vans on the road. “In addition, an AI-based stopping assistant has been developed to help train drivers find the optimal braking point: because the accuracy between the door and the trailer position is crucial for the eTrailer to be able to board and alight safely and quickly. The eTrailer, in turn, needs to know when it is at which stop and which train it is supposed to board. The system uses corresponding occupancy sensors in the train to constantly analyze whether the loading area is free or whether safe unloading is possible,” Frey continues. The strong network ensures that the right trailer is available at the right time and controls the transport process right up to the final delivery.
The way forward: Reallabor Karlsruhe
What makes the use of LogIKTram in Karlsruhe so promising is the two-system concept (TramTrain), in which special light rail vehicles run on both railway and tram tracks. This Karlsruhe model provides seamless connections from the city center to the suburbs, where distribution centers are often located. With the Albtal-VerkehrsGesellschaft mbH, which coordinates the entire project, a practical concept for low-floor vehicles was developed. By cleverly combining existing resources and new technologies, LogIKTram shows how urban transport could become more sustainable by combining passenger transport and freight distribution. “Our vision is to make urban life a little better through more efficient and greener solutions – and that starts with every package transported. We have shown that the cargo tram is technically possible. Now, the existing challenges, such as the lack of approval for modified rail vehicles or a legal basis for mixed operation, need to be clarified,” concludes Frey. The demonstrator makes it possible to see how the interaction between the railway, freight trailers and passengers could work in everyday life. In the recently launched follow-up project “regioKArgoTramTrain”, the promising results are being extended to real sections of track using a newer vehicle.
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Dual use of rail infrastructure and vehicles for both passenger and freight transportation
Logistics concept and intelligent information and communication technology platform for urban rail-based freight transportation
Coordinator Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft mbH, several KIT institutes and other research institutions and companies
