DailySun
Moscow – The successful launch of the first driverless tram marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Moscow’s public transportation system.
“This revolutionary advancement demonstrates the potential of autonomous technology to enhance urban mobility, increasing efficiency, safety, and convenience for riders,” remarked Maksim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry.
Preparations are actively in place for the introduction of a second driverless tram in Moscow.
Liksutov elaborated on Thursday, (16 January 2025), that this cutting-edge transport, based on the Lvyonok-Moskva model, has already traveled several kilometers within the Krasnopresnenskoye depot in the Strogino district.
Currently, the system is designed to mimic the actions of a human driver operating the tram.
The testing conditions are set up to closely imitate real urban environments.
Experts have established a workspace for analysts inside the tram, where they are currently focused on the following tasks:
- Assessing the performance of the onboard radars, lidars, and cameras
- Verifying the tram’s essential functionalities
“In 2024, we completed the first phase and initiated the second phase of introducing Russia’s first driverless tram,” Liksutov noted.
This innovative transportation method has successfully traversed over 3,200 km within the city while adhering to traffic regulations.
A driver oversees the tram’s operations on the road, while the system autonomously manages vehicle control.
By 2025, it aims to entirely transition to an autonomous operation mode, as directed by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.
“We are currently preparing the second tram, equipped with similar control technologies, for the upcoming launch,” Liksutov added.
