The global autonomous train technology market was valued at US$7.41 billion in 2021, and is projected to be worth US$10.11 billion in 2026. In comparison to road transportation, railways are considered to be an efficient and reliable means of transportation for passenger and freight over greater distances, with fewer delays and breakdowns, resulting in shorter travel times. As a result, governments across the world have boosted financial allocations for modernizing and upgrading the railway ecosystem in order to enhance the railway network and minimize reliance on other modes of transportation.

Autonomous trains are a type of automated train that includes an automated train driving system that controls train arrival, departure, movement between stations, accurate and automatic train halting, and on-time door opening and closing. The autonomous train technology market is determined to grow at a CAGR of 6.43% over the analyzed period of 2022-2026.

Market Segmentation Analysis:

By Train Type: The report identifies three segments on the basis of train type: Metro/Monorail, High Speed Rail and Light Rail. Among the train type, metro/monorail segment held the major share of around 44% in 2021 owing to the advantages such as safer, efficient, dependable, and cost effective means of transportation. The advantages of high capacity and quick travel time are driving the adoption of metro rails in developing economies.

By Region: In the report, the global autonomous train technology market is divided into five regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. North America accounted for the largest share of 38% in the global autonomous train technology market in 2021. North America has a long railway history and is a developed economy with significant infrastructure capable of servicing the enormous demand for goods and people mobility. Higher use of railways for freight mobility has supported the market in the past years.

Asia Pacific is predicted to experience the fastest growth in the coming years, due to presence of good railway netwwork. Furthermore, the autonomous train industry is expected to increase significantly as governments across the region, particularly China, India, and Japan, invest more in rail infrastructure development. The increased popularity of metro transit as a mode of public transportation in India is also causing significant industry growth. As a result, the railway network plays a critical role in the economic development of Asia-Pacific countries.

Market Dynamics:

Growth Drivers: The market has been growing over the past few years, due to factors such as rising investments in smart cities, increasing adoption of metros and high speed trains, increased budget allocation for railway development, decarbonized and sustainable form of transportation, rising demand for secure and safer railway system and increasing demand for electric trains. Due to the introduction of improved technology such as communication based train control (CBTC), European railway traffic management system (ETRMS), and others, autonomous trains have a lower risk of rail fatalities. On-board cameras, sensors, communication devices, and other technology can help to prevent train fatalities, boosting the demand for autonomous train technologies. Moreover, growing electrification of metro/monorail as a result of stricter pollution standards being enacted around the world has also supported market growth.

Challenges: However, some challenges are impeding the growth of the market such as high implementation costs and constraints in processing. Autonomous trains are built around integrated digital signal processing (DSP) modules. The programmed algorithm directs the operation of this architecture in a specific order. When the train is moving, one of the key challenges is the complicated interplay of the many subsystems. Railway signaling is complicated, with many different types of signals and state combinations. There are a variety of train types available, each with its own infrastructure. As a result, an autonomous system that works with one type of train may not necessarily work with another.

Trends: The market is projected to grow at a fast pace during the forecast period, due to various latest trends such as adoption of IoT devices, integration of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, and technological advancements in automotive sensors. The internet of things have a significant impact on railway infrastructure dependability and safety. Condition-based monitoring eliminates delays caused by track and train component failures, improving maintenance efficiency and costs while also increasing passenger satisfaction. Railway operators can also use IoT-enabled advanced analytics to develop data-driven solutions to improve fleet control and rail operations efficiency.

Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and Way Forward:

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on global autonomous train technology market. Because of the pandemic, major railway projects were halted, and posed a challenge to the autonomous train technology market. People were seeking more personal vehicles as a result of their fear of shared spaces, decreasing the demand of train, thus hampering the market.

However, the post-COVID environment appears to be fortunate for the autonomous train technology market, as people are now more transilient for electric and safe vehicles. Moreover, increased safety norms are also expected to support the market growth. Connectivity is going beyond 5G and vehicle data access. More connected experiences would open up more possibilities for displaying information across dashboards and interfaces.

Competitive Landscape:

The global autonomous train technology market is highly concentrated. Market players have implemented sustainable growth techniques in the market. To strengthen their position in the market, some of the leading competitors are pursuing various growth methods such as mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and agreements. For example, Alstom completed the acquisition of Bombardier Transportation in January 2021, resulting in a globally competitive producer in mobility and rail transport. The key players of the global autonomous train technology market are:

Alstom SA
Belden Inc.
CAF SA
CRRC Corporation Ltd.
Hitachi Ltd (Hitachi Rail Ltd.)
Thales Group
CalAmp Corp.
Siemens AG (Siemens Mobility)
Warehouse Airbrake Technologies Corporation (GE Transportation)
ABB Group
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
Deutsche Bahn AG

Major players are investing in R&D of the equipment to meet international standards. New product launches, collaborations with governments and expansion in the emerging countries are among the strategic activities that the corporations are pursuing in order to increase their market positions. For example, in September 2021, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering formed a joint partnership with Keolis to build the Dubai Metro and Dubai tram. The Dubai metro, a fully automated driverless rail system, has successfully begun operations. Kawasaki Heavy Industries offered new remote track monitoring services with information and communications technology in North America in May 2021.

Scope of the Report:

The report titled “Global Autonomous Train Technology Market: Analysis By Train Type (Metro/Monorail, High Speed Rail, Light Rail), By Region (North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa) Size and Trends with Impact of COVID-19 and Forecast up to 2026”, includes:

  • - An in-depth analysis of the global autonomous train technology market by value, by train type, by region, etc.
  • - The regional analysis of the autonomous train technology market, including the following regions:



North America (The US, Canada and Mexico)
Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, and Rest of Asia Pacific)
Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Rest of Europe)
Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Rest of Latin America)
Middle East and Africa

  • - Comprehensive information about emerging markets. This report analyses the market for various segments across geographies.
  • - Provides an analysis of the COVID-19 impact on the global autonomous train technology market.
  • - Assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall autonomous train technology market has also been forecasted for the period 2022-2026, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers, and the current and future trends.
  • - Evaluation of the potential role of autonomous train technology to improve the market status.
  • - Identification of new technological developments, R&D activities, and product launches occuring in the autonomous train technology market.
  • - In-depth profiling of the key players, including the assessment of the business overview, market strategies, regional and business segments of the leading players in the market.
  • - The recent developments, mergers and acquisitions related to mentioned key players are provided in the market report.
  • - The in-depth analysis provides an insight into the market, underlining the growth rate and opportunities offered in the business.