1983 Steinwinter Supercargo 2040 Cab is probably the strangest truck ever made

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. Everything old is new again.

April 27, 2023 | Intermodal

PVJR, GEGI Partner on Autonomous Road/Rail Glīd

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief



Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad (PVJR), a 33-mile Class III in Washington State, has entered a partnership with Salt Lake City-based tech startup Genesis Electronics Group Inc. (GEGI) to provide rail access to the company’s experimental autonomous battery-electric Glīd road/rail vehicle. Vancouver, Wash.-based trucking transportation and logistics company Taylor Transport is a participant in Glīd testing.

The Glīd is described as a vehicle “for moving unaltered semi-trailers on and off the rails.” Taylor Transport’s property has a rail spur directly connecting to the PVJR. GEGI signed a letter of intent with Taylor Transport in early April 2023. In October 2022, GEGI acquired Glīd, LLC, a Salt Lake City-based autonomous electric shipping technology firm.

Glīd is a wholly owned subsidiary of GEGI. Its technology is designed to enable “two specially made ‘Glīder’ vehicles to independently and autonomously move under an unaltered, fully loaded semi-trailer, connect to both the kingpin and rear axle, and then lift the trailer,” GEGI described. “Once the trailer is lifted off the ground, the Glīders, using a uniquely designed wheel system, will be able to access railroad tracks, deploy rail wheels [much like a hi-rail vehicle], and then transport the semi-trailer at speeds of up to 80 mph on battery power. Each Glīder would exit the rails onto a [facility] where a semi-tractor could then pick up the trailer and take it on the final leg of its destination.”

The PVJR/GEGI partnership is described as “the first in the U.S. to grant access to an autonomous electric vehicle to move unaltered semi-trailers on and off the rails.”

Glīd equipment and software can be resting while on the PVJR rail spur in Taylor Transport’s facilities. “Engineers will be able to test, observe and perform the necessary design and onsite modifications required to iterate and enhance its beta units for production deployment,” GEGI noted. “After certain testing standards have been met, the Glīd will be able to access longer stretches of PVJR track and begin to interface with its scheduling system as well as [determine compliance with FRA] safety standards. Meeting or exceeding [FRA] rail safety standards and system requirements is one of the highest priorities. The company wants to demonstrate that autonomous vehicles on the rails can be as safe if not safer than [crewed] locomotives. Working with PVJR will enable us to evaluate safety protocols in several environments and scenarios. Once the Glīd can demonstrate that it has passed these safety standards, we will have the opportunity to present this technology to other rail operators across the country, including Class I railroads.”



PVJR leases 33 miles of railroad from Clark County, Wash. between Vancouver and Chelatchie. Its interchange with BNSF (on BNSF’s Seattle Subdivision) is four miles north of Portland, Ore. in Vancouver, a short distance away from the Port of Portland and Port of Vancouver. The railroad also has access to I-5 and I-205.



PJVR shown in yellow at center-left on this OpenRailwayMap screen shot.

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