Hamburg’s S-Bahn gets even smarter thanks to deepening Siemens partnership

The new “Digital Eyes” will allow for trains to monitor their surroundings and be kept in check in real time

Through a longstanding partnership between Deutsche Bahn, the city of Hamburg and Siemens, the local S-Bahn is set to become even smarter. The latest innovation that was announced earlier this week comes in the form of the new “Digital Eyes” which will substantially boost performance and enhance the safety of the vehicles at all times.

Collaborating for smarter traffic

As part of the overarching “Sensors4Rail” joint project, Deutsche Bahn’s will be equipping trains running on Hamburg’s S-Bahn with the new “Digital Eyes” technology. These sensors automatically monitor the vehicles’ surroundings and allow them to avoid disruptions. Furthermore, they also allow for the constant tracking of the trains, ultimately reducing the downtime between the arrival of vehicles at stations and thus speeding up the service.

Thanks to the “Digital Eyes” the Hamburg S-Bahn will be able to substantially improve its performance without the need to upgrade its infrastructure, thus achieving progress without incurring additional costs – something that is especially important as the whole of Germany races to reach its ambitious climate targets.

DB Member of the Management Board for Infrastructure Ronald Pofalla stated that “Digital Rail for Germany allows us to step up the pace when it comes to increasing capacity within the network. Smart technology is making switches and trains even more intelligent and rail transportation noticeably more robust. This is truly an advantage for our customers and the entire sector. In collaboration with our industry partners, we are ensuring transportation growth on climate-friendly tracks.”

The Sensors4Rail project, however, does not automate the vehicles fully. Instead, it aims to enhance the performance of crew members by giving them additional opportunities to monitor the trains and execute their functions, as they remain on board throughout the entire time.