China is making strides in rail freight technology. For one, it launched a hydrogen locomotive trial. And second, the country now has robots to help in rolling stock inspections.
Chinese media don’t waste many words on the hydrogen locomotive development, but they do specify that a trial is underway in the south of China. It concerns the country’s first commercial hydrogen energy-powered locomotive. The trial takes place around Liupanshui, a city known for its coal industry. However, it has been transitioning to green energy in recent years, and so it is looking to replace fossil fuels with hydrogen in transport. Besides locomotives, buses and trucks are also running on hydrogen.
Robot inspectors
On the other side of China, in the north, robots are making their debut in the world of Chinese rail freight. They help in wagon inspections, with a success rate of 100% for “common faults”.
The robots are not replacing manual labour entirely, however. For now, the system combines robot inspections with manual verification and cloud-based diagnostics. It primarily helps in reducing human error and labour intensity. Over a 24-hour period, the robots can speed up wagon inspections by 30 minutes for 108 wagons. Robot systems are also already in use for high-speed passenger rolling stock, according to Chinese media.