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China tests ADAS-type technology to move 7 freight trains wirelessly

Science and Technology

Business Honor China’s ADAS moves 7 freight trains wirelessly

Business Honor
09 December, 2025

China achieves a breakthrough in rail transport with wireless freight train coordination, enhancing efficiency and reducing infrastructure costs.

China has accomplished yet another technical milestone through the successful test of connecting several freight trains wirelessly without any mechanical connections. According to a report from South China Morning Post (SCMP), on September 11, many trains were able to run together on a single track, enhancing automotive runs. The seven freight trains, all weighing 5,000 tons each, operated on a single rail line at the same time while simultaneously managing their relative distances in relation to each other. The testing performed by China also meant a significant reduction in the need to install new rail track systems and saved the company money. The wireless system used for the control and coordination of train groups is a product of China Shenhua Energy, which is a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned company CHN Energy.

The new wireless systems developed by China Shenhua Energy and used for train control and management are very similar to Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) commonly found in passenger vehicles, and are used in combination with adaptive cruise control systems that allow vehicles to change speed based on current traffic conditions. "Using train-to-ground and train-to-train communication, this technology utilizes a 2-dimensional method of controls for vehicle coordination via the two variables of rel. Velocity and absolute distance as well as to allow for dynamic operation between trains without regard for fixed distances," CHN Energy told the SCMP.

The test run of the freight trains combined produced over 35,000 tons of cargo in weight, with these combined freight trains being operated closer together than single freight trains. The company is investing heavily in extending the nation’s freight train network because it is a safe method of transporting goods and is far less harmful to the environment than other modes of transportation. As stated by the state-owned newspaper China Daily, over three billion tons of cargo was moved in just the first three quarters of 2019.