Sergei Sobyanin: Moscow’s driverless trams have provided over 3,000 services

In Moscow, driverless trams have provided over 3,000 services; Sergei Sobyanin clues in about driverless technologies used in the local tram network on his MAX channel.

“Last September, Moscow was the first city in the world to pioneer scheduled passenger driverless tram services on route No. 10 Shchukinskaya Metro Station-Kulakova Street,” the Moscow Mayor writes.

Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Max channel

The innovative transport in fact carried over 100,000 passengers without a single traffic violation. In particular, the driverless trams do not exceed the speed limit and ensure smooth movement. Moreover, they stop automatically, open and close their doors, strictly obey traffic lights, give way to pedestrians and operate in usual situations in the city on par with conventional trams, strictly adhering to the schedule.

Today, the city has four driverless trams; some of them are running in the test mode to scout the route and build a high-precision map.

“The tram software is developed by Moscow Metro engineers. The smart technology is unique; it is more accurate and reliable than overseas peers. It has therefore been awarded a few prestigious national and international awards,” writes Sergei Sobyanin.

Source: Moscow Mayor’s MAX channel

At the moment, they are refurbishing one more tram car. Eleven trams will feature driverless technology by the end of this year, so their total number is to increase up to fifteen vehicles, to be introduced into the city step by step — some as pilots and others providing passenger services. Approximately two-thirds of the capital’s tram fleet is to become driverless by 2030.