In the early morning of December 9, 2022, the CRH6A-0637 EMU equipped with HollySys C2+ATO onboard train control system slowly stopped in Longtang EMU depot's stabling yard, marking the successful conclusion of the C2+ATO automatic turnback test. The successful completion of this test represents a significant milestone in China's advancement towards a higher technical level for automatic turnback operations of intercity railways. It is a part of China's efforts to promote technological innovation and application practices that lead to quality and efficiency improvement, as well as intelligent construction of intercity railways.

In the test, the onboard train control systems at both ends of an intercity train were interconnected for communication, making driverless train operation possible for the first time.

The test was organized and guided by Guangdong Intercity Railway Operation Co., Ltd., as part of an initiative to enhance transportation services in response to residents' demands for "higher speed, tighter headway, and mass transit style," and to create a "one-hour economic circle" in the Greater Bay Area. As the leading member of the C2+ATO automatic turnback test, Beijing HollySys Co., Ltd. committed a team of backbone technicians who worked alongside other members to overcome technical barriers and successfully complete the test after 21 months.

This test was conducted on the operating lines of Guangdong Intercity Railway Operation Co., Ltd. (Guangzhou-Qingyuan Intercity Line and Guangzhou East Ring Intercity Railway). Given the challenges of performing end change operations, which are complex, time-consuming, and inefficient, HollySys approached the test in stages, starting with simpler tasks before tackling more challenging ones.

The whole test is mainly divided into three stages:

First, communication was established between the onboard train control equipment at both ends, aimed to reduce the time of end change operations at Huadu Station and Qingcheng Station. Next, the onboard train control equipment at both ends communicated via the vehicle network to verify the feasibility of automatic turnback of this EMU. Finally, the train turned back automatically at Airport N. Station.

HollySys C2+ATO designed for automatic end change and automatic turnback, reduced the end change time at Huadu Station and Qingcheng Station from the original 10 minutes to 6 minutes, and that at Airport N. Station from the original 35 minutes to 17 minutes, resulting in a total time savings of 34 minutes for a full routing. With 33 routings planned on the train diagram every day, the HollySys C2+ATO system can save a total of 1,122 minutes of labor time per day, contributing to effectively shortening the headway, reducing the average waiting time of passengers, and improving the operation service level of intercity railways in the mass transit style.

The operator, Guangdong Intercity Railway Operation Company, has fully affirmed the success of the test, which has demonstrated the potential for rapid development of intercity railways. Furthermore, the innovative technical support provided by the HollySys C2+ATO system can help accelerate the network construction of rail transit in urban agglomerations and metropolitan areas.