The expert estimated the timing of the appearance of unmanned trams in St. Petersburg

Fully unmanned trams may be launched in St. Petersburg by 2030. The necessary technologies already exist, but their mass adoption is hampered by legislative and infrastructural constraints. Andrey Yukhnenko, General Director of PC Transport Systems, told the Business Petersburg portal on December 24.

According to him, trams with autopilot elements are already in operation in the city today. Starting in 2022, all wagons supplied by the company to St. Petersburg will be equipped with an active safety and driver assistance system, which is capable of independently selecting speed, analyzing the road situation and preventing emergencies. Testing of unmanned technologies began back in 2018, and in 2025, the system was significantly upgraded with more powerful microprocessors and updated algorithms.

The head of the company stressed that equipping the tram with sensors and software is not enough for full-fledged unmanned movement. Dedicated paths, well-developed external infrastructure, secure communication channels, and proven scenarios for interacting with the urban environment are needed. In addition, the current federal legislation does not yet allow the operation of public transport without a driver.

At the same time, Yukhnenko believes that even if fully unmanned trams are launched, a person should remain in the cabin. According to him, a psychological sense of control and safety is important for passengers, and the driver is perceived as an additional guarantee of reliability.

"Artificial intelligence has turned a tram driver into an elite who works like a manager — in a white shirt and tie. Do you remember when a tram driver in an orange vest used to go out on the road with a crowbar in his hand? He moved the arrows in summer, winter, and rain. This is no longer the case. Motion sensors are installed on the infrastructure, the tram has arrived — the arrow has changed. The driver no longer gets out and continues the route in a comfortable mode," the expert said.

Directions of movement: all modes of transport in the Russian Federation will be integrated into a single network

The government and the Kremlin discussed how the HSR between Moscow and St. Petersburg is being built, the number of airports in the regions and direct flights abroad are increasing.

The company is also developing other technological areas. In particular, we are talking about high-speed multi-section trams with increased capacity, which are considered as an alternative to the metro in cities where its construction is difficult or postponed. Such wagons are capable of carrying up to 400-500 passengers and can adapt to seasonal fluctuations in passenger traffic by changing the number of sections.

Special attention is paid to autonomous running. Already today, the company's trams can run without a contact network for up to 5 km, and in the future — up to 50 km. This opens up opportunities for the use of electric vehicles in areas without developed infrastructure and in the event of accidents on power supply lines.

Yukhnenko noted that the localization level of tram production reaches 98%, and the remaining components are planned to be completely replaced in the coming years. Despite the high competition in the market and the restrictions associated with government procurement, the company continues to invest in the development of new models. In 2026, PC Transport Systems intends to start production of a new generation of trams, which, according to the head of the company, should outpace the market for several years to come.

On December 16, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that three transport projects related to trams had been implemented in the capital by the end of 2025. Thus, the first tram diameter was launched, fully unmanned vehicles were put on the rails, and wagons with full autonomous movement also appeared.

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