Recently, the China Urban Rail Transit Association officially announced the 2025 “Urban Rail Transit Science and Technology Progress Award” winners. The “Research and Application of Key Technologies of Train Autonomous Circumambulation System (TACS)” project led by Qingdao Metro and jointly completed by FITSCO, CRRC and other units won the special prize of “2025 Urban Rail Transit Science and Technology Progress Award.
The Urban Rail Transit Science and Technology Progress Award, hosted by CURTA, is a nationally recognized social award and the highest honor in China’s urban rail transit technology sector. It highlights original innovation, breakthroughs in key technologies, and industrial transformation.
TACS is a new type ATC system that is centered on train and transforms train operation mode from automation to autonomy, with the adoption of resource management concept, the basis of train-to-train communication and the feature of signaling system and vehicle deep integration.
As a new‑generation train control system, TACS represents an advanced ATC architecture that is train‑centered, shifting operation from automation toward autonomy. Based on train‑to‑train communication and a resource‑management framework, TACS features deep integration between the signaling system and rolling stock.
After eight years of research, development, testing and verification, TACS has achieved commercial deployment. Its demonstration line — Qingdao Metro Line 6 — has operated safely and stably since opening, with core performance indicators leading the network, proving the reliability of this next‑generation train control technology.
During the 15th Five‑Year Plan period, China will build a smarter, greener and more innovative urban rail transit system, accelerating the shift from scale expansion to quality upgrading.
TACS will play a key role in this transition, supporting the construction of efficient intelligent rail networks, elevating China’s rail transit technology to a global leading level, and delivering strong social and economic benefits.