Intelligent Driver Assistance System for Railways by Knorr-Bremse

Railway Technology Intelligent Driver Assistance System Reduces Energy Consumption for Railway Operators

2025-10-09 From Stefanie Eckardt | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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Knorr-Bremse has developed a new driver assistance system for rail transport called Leader Flow, which supports train drivers with intelligent driving recommendations in daily operations. The system not only helps achieve the ideal speed but also enables anticipatory acceleration and braking. The system is initially being offered for freight trains and is planned to be used in passenger trains in the future.

The driver assistance system Leader Flow achieves double-digit percentage energy savings during freight train operations – here in test operation with the dynamic schedule from cn-mobility.(Image: Knorr-Bremse) — The driver assistance system Leader Flow achieves double-digit percentage energy savings during freight train operations – here in test operation with the dynamic schedule from cn-mobility.
(Image: Knorr-Bremse)

Leader Flow is built on the driver assistance system Leader, which has been in use in around 650 locomotives since 2018. The new system utilizes various data sources to optimize route management in real time. The digital route preview incorporates train models, live traffic data, the electronic timetable, as well as geodata and GNSS data. With its intuitive user interface, Leader Flow can be operated as a stand-alone solution via an app on a tablet or integrated into existing systems in the cockpit.

Algorithm Ensures Energy Savings

Knorr-Bremse tested the system for six months in the locomotives of a major European freight operator on the German rail network. The results were positive: 89 percent of train drivers were able to operate their trains more energy-efficiently with the installed app compared to the control group without a driver assistance system. On average, the energy savings achieved by implementing the driving recommendations amounted to 10.2 percent, and in peak cases even between 20 and 30 percent.

The system enables this efficiency leap through a sophisticated algorithm that recommends targeted driving style adjustments to train drivers. This helps to avoid unnecessary braking, stops, and acceleration phases, while making more efficient use of intelligent coasting and buffer times. The Traffic Flow Mode operating mode ensures maximum flexibility in travel planning—depending on whether energy consumption, travel time, or punctuality takes priority. Advantage: The costs or licensing fees of the assistance system pay off for operators from the very first use, as billing is entirely performance-based and depends solely on the energy savings actually achieved by the operator, with no initial costs.

Market Launch in Freight Transport

Knorr-Bremse initially plans the market launch of its driver assistance system for German freight transport. In the medium term, the system is to be rolled out to other European markets and platforms. The long-term goal is to offer the driver assistance system in global railway markets for energy and travel optimization. (se)

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Date: 08.12.2025

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