Does Europe have driverless trains?

The first automated metro line in the European Union was launched in the French city of Lille in 1983. Initially, it consisted of 12 stations. Since that time, Lille Metro has been developed significantly. Now, it includes two fully automated lines with 60 stations.



Yes, Europe is a world leader in autonomous rail technology, with numerous driverless systems operating in 2026. While many major cities like Paris (Lines 1 and 14), Barcelona (Line 9), and Copenhagen have utilized fully automated "Grade of Automation 4" (GoA4) metros for years, 2026 has seen a significant push toward mainline autonomous rail. A groundbreaking example is the Czech "Edita" project, which successfully operates driverless trains on open regional tracks, managing real-world variables like level crossings and wildlife. Additionally, Germany’s Deutsche Bahn continues to expand its "Digital S-Bahn" in Hamburg, where trains operate autonomously on existing commuter tracks. These systems use a sophisticated suite of LiDAR, radar, and HD cameras to scan the environment, allowing for higher frequency, better energy efficiency, and more reliable service compared to traditional human-operated rail networks.

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Deutsche Bahn (DB), in partnership with Siemens Mobility, has developed the world's first fully automated driverless train in Germany.

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Automatic driverless metros have now begun passenger service on Paris Metro's Line 4, as work has been completed to digitise and automate the century-old line. More driverless shuttles will be introduced over time to achieve full automation by the end of 2023.

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Driverless trains have been in operation on the Docklands Light Railway since it opened in 1987, though a train attendant is present to operate the doors and drive the train if needed.

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While full driverless autonomy is certainly technically possible, and is applied on various routes worldwide, it still accounts for only a tiny percentage of trains running today. New trains are still being designed and built with fully equipped driver cabins.

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While automated trains only comprise a relatively small fraction of the world's total transit systems, the percentage is growing as more urban and regional authorities realize the advantages. Driverless trains reduce the chance of human error while improving rail efficiency and safety.

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China's first commercial driverless sky train begins trial run in Wuhan's hi-tech park. The Chinese city of Wuhan began testing a driverless sky train in its hi-tech park on May 9, 2023. The country's first commercial sky train is expected to open to the public later in the year.

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The driverless Shinkansen tests have so far taken place on the northernmost section of the Joetsu Shinkansen Line, which is not used by commercial traffic. This 5km-long section runs from Niigata station to the stock depot at Higashi-Niigata.

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1. Switzerland. Tucked inside the small but incredibly beautiful country of Switzerland is one of the most efficient and scenic rail networks in the world.

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In order to have driverless trains, the operator would have to adjust the platforms and the tracks to make them the same level. TfL would also have to introduce platform-edge doors in order to make on- and offboarding driverless trains easier and safer.

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Deutsche Bahn and Siemens have developed the world's first train that runs by itself, the two groups said in a statement. The technology does not require a specific track as the autonomous train runs on the same network as those operated by drivers.

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Plane travel is safest, reports Ian Savage, of the Dept. of Economics & Transportation Center at Norwestern University, in the Huff Post Live video clip above. Trains are three times more dangerous than flying but safer than traveling by car (which is 40 times more risky than flying), according to Savage.

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Metro plans to return to automatic train operation, which means train operators will no longer be responsible for driving, starting, stopping, or opening doors. Operators will still have to close train doors and respond to any emergencies.

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