On September 11, 2025, more than 70 experts and stakeholders from across Europe gathered in Dětenice, Czech Republic, for an Expert Meeting on Autonomous Train Technology organized by AŽD Praha. The central theme was EDITA, the first autonomous passenger train in regular operation on open railway lines in Europe – operating with passengers during weekends since April 2025.
The event took place on the “KOPIDLNKA” railway, a dedicated railway line owned and operated by AŽD Praha, which serves as a unique real-world environment for testing and validating advanced railway technologies — including autonomous operation. This line is not only a proving ground for innovation, but also home to the Competence Centre for Digital Railway, which provides a foundation for education, training, and knowledge exchange in the field of modern railway systems.
The program offered a mix of presentations, interactive discussions, and live demonstrations. Participants learned about the autonomous railway project on the Kopidlnka test line, explored innovative approaches to infrastructure monitoring and management, and saw drone inspections in action, capable of monitoring tracks with millimeter-level precision.
A key part of the event was a series of interactive discussions, where we gathered expert opinions on the future development of autonomous railways. These conversations provided valuable insights into the technological, operational, and regulatory challenges ahead. One of the key outcomes of these discussions was the recognition of the urgent need for changes in the legal framework to enable full automation at the GoA4 level. We invite all readers to join this ongoing dialogue by sharing their views via our online questionnaire: https://forms.office.com/e/MwzDj41RNn?origin=lprLink