GC and HOG believe the development and anticipated adoption of this technology has the potential to capture new container business moving to and from the Port of Savannah, as well as reinvigorate traffic on rural rail lines and revive inland ports in Georgia – all while removing trucks from the region’s roads and reducing carbon emissions.
If approved, the multi-phased pilot would begin next year and be overseen by the FRA, G&W and Parallel Systems – allowing G&W and Parallel Systems to demonstrate the technology in a field setting while using carefully developed protocols to ensure the pilot is operated in a safe, controlled manner.
Earlier this year, Parallel Systems, a company founded by former SpaceX engineers, announced that it had begun testing its new autonomous battery-electric rail vehicle and proprietary autonomous train control system, as it works toward developing a solution to move freight cleaner, faster, safer, and more cost effectively than traditional trains or trucks.
The firm also revealed that it plans to build three more autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles in 2023.