Train drivers from four voivodships confirm the effectiveness of SENSUM, an app for eco-friendly train travel.

Safety, efficiency of the system's operation in various atmospheric conditions, level of savings – verification of these parameters, among others, is assumed by the ongoing SENSUM second test phase. The innovative system supporting economical and ecological driving has so far been tested by drivers from Koleje Mazowieckie and Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna. Now they have been joined by Koleje Śląskie and Koleje Wielkopolskie. The project is being implemented as part of the Center for Railway Energy Efficiency.

When taking a train in the Mazowieckie, Łódzkie, Śląskie or Wielkopolskie voivodship, we may end up with one that runs smoother and generates a much lower carbon footprint. This is thanks to SENSUM, an app that significantly improves driving and enables energy savings. In the first phase, drivers drove a total of more than 200 hours with SENSUM. The system is being developed by PKP Energetyka in cooperation with REDS engineers.

Eco-driving is conscious, skillful and economical driving, allowing to use the lowest possible amount of energy or fuel. SENSUM is the first such innovative solution for Polish railway, prepared for drivers and by drivers in a co-creation model.
The first test phase was primarily successful in the scope of the quality of communication between the tablets and the central system, the accuracy of location and displayed recommendations, and the interface design. According to the conclusions of this test phase, the system improves comfort and situational awareness, in addition to increasing motivation and engagement of drivers. Based on comments from drivers using SENSUM, a package of corrections and improvements has been introduced, and the latest version of the app has reached the cabs again for final verification.

"We are pleased that already in the test phase, more and more carriers are joining the ranks of SENSUM users, so they have a direct influence on the final shape of the system. We strive to develop the app in dialog with direct users, so that it is fully tailored to the needs of each driver. We believe that soon, thanks to joint activities, eco-driving will be a standard for the railway, and SENSUM tablets will be available in every vehicle, which will significantly affect the energy efficiency of the sector", said Leszek Hołda, Member of the Management Board of PKP Energetyka and Vice-Chairman of the Presiding Committee of the CEEK Program Council.

Among the things that will be confirmed this time are the level of energy savings generated by drivers using the system, the transmission of trail safety warnings between tablets, and the effectiveness of the system's operation under various trail conditions, weather conditions, etc.

“The experience of foreign carriers, as well as numerous scientific studies, show that the implementation of eco-driving based on dynamic recommendations sent to the driver's cab allows significant energy savings, up to 15% for agglomeration travel. Designed and manufactured by REDS, the SENSUM system is a Polish implementation of the concept and is based on state-of-the-art technologies. The system is currently undergoing the second phase of operational testing, and I am confident that as a result we will show a significant reduction in traction energy consumption for drivers using SENSUM,” said dr. inż. Witold Bartnik, President of the Management Board of REDS.

In addition, a workshop organized by CEEK was held in February this year, attended by nearly 50 train drivers from a dozen different railway companies, where the capabilities of SENSUM were presented, and participants also had the opportunity to test the system on a specially designed simulator. The second test phase will last until the end of March, followed by the planned production launch of SENSUM in the third quarter of this year. Implementation of SENSUM across the entire rail sector will generate electricity consumption savings of 400 GWh, or enough to power 20,000 households for 10 years, and reduce CO2 emissions by 320,000 tons, the amount consumed annually by the Białowieża Forest in Poland.

Find out more about SENSUM: https://pkpenergetyka.pl/kolej...