Following a successful pilot project in Antwerp, De Lijn will also test an advanced driver assistance system for trams in Ghent. The system acts as a digital co-pilot, assisting tram drivers in complex urban traffic situations by helping them identify risks more quickly and prevent collisions.

Last year, the driver assistance system project, part of the European ARISE (Advanced Rail Innovation for Safety & Efficiency) project, was tested on a De Lijn tram in Antwerp. The installation demonstrated that the technology, which continuously monitors the tram’s surroundings, is also deployable in a busy urban tram network.

Especially useful in complex traffic situations

During testing in the various project cities, including Valencia and Zaragoza, more than 400,000 km of data were collected. The system achieved an availability rate of over 95% and generated very few false alarms. The project aims to eventually help reduce the number of tram-related collisions and minimize disruptions on the tram network.

The tram drivers involved also responded positively to the test. They indicated that the system is particularly useful in complex traffic situations, where additional support helps them react more quickly to unexpected movements by other road users.

Additional features

Based on the positive experiences in Antwerp, the new European TRACE project was launched in February, also supported by EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

TRACE builds on ARISE’s technology and adds additional features. For example, thanks to additional sensors, the system in Ghent will also be able to detect potential collisions along the tram’s sides.

In addition, the system uses digital route information. This helps the driver better anticipate complex situations along the route and, among other things, issues warnings when a tram approaches an area where an adjusted speed is required, such as near switches.

The technology is also being tested in Karlsruhe and Rotterdam this year.

Extra pair of eyes

“Our drivers work every day in a challenging urban environment,” says Ann Schoubs, Director General at De Lijn. “With a driver assistance system like this, we’re giving them an extra set of eyes.”

“ARISE has provided valuable insights into how technology can support drivers. We’ll incorporate those insights into the further development of our safety approach.”

The technology behind the advanced driver-assistance system used in the project was developed by the Ghent company OTIV.