RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) plans to operate up to five freight trains in virtual coupling mode next year. RZD deputy managing director and head of traction directorate, Mr Oleg Valinsky, confirmed on August 26 that these plans would include driving locomotives using the virtual technology with up to five consecutive trains. Up to five freight trains could operate in virtual coupling mode next year.
Virtual coupling, or ‘platooning’, allows a railway to better regulate the interval between trains. It can reduce the gap between following trains from 12 minutes to 6-8 minutes. Virtual coupling works by exchanging information on the mode of movement between the locomotive powering the leading train and those on the ‘slave trains’ via a digital radio channel.
