The special train features six functional carriages, including a command carriage, a VIP A34 carriage, a luxury carriage, and passenger carriages. It serves not only for passenger transport but also as a mobile workspace, an operational command center, and a resting area.
Inside the VIP A34 carriage, Vietnam Railways is piloting the KettyBot Pro service robot to assist passengers. Equipped with artificial intelligence technology and a 3D obstacle avoidance system, the robot navigates the train's narrow aisles with ease.
According to the operator, the robot performs various functions: greeting passengers, guiding them to their seats, introducing products, providing destination information, and serving food and beverages directly to tables. This initiative aims to enhance the comfort and modernity of the passenger experience on trains.
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Robot serving beverages in the carriage. *Photo: Anh Duy*
Alongside the service robots, Vietnam Railways also introduced a multi-functional command carriage that integrates an online operating system. Designed as a "mobile office", this carriage allows for meetings, directives, and work to be handled during transit.
The meeting room accommodates about 20 people. It features a large central screen and three auxiliary screens positioned along the conference table to display data, images, and real-time information, with both domestic and international data connections. The conference table's sawtooth design draws inspiration from the Da Lat - Trai Mat cog railway, optimizing space within the carriage.
The carriage utilizes new-generation 5G connectivity, ensuring continuous communication and data transmission across diverse terrains, including mountainous regions or areas with typically limited signal. In emergencies such as natural disasters, floods, or security incidents, the carriage can function as a "mobile forward command post" for operational management.
Robot serving beverages on the train. *Video: Anh Duy*
According to Nguyen Quoc Vuong, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation, the integration of robots and digital technologies is part of the railway sector's digital transformation strategy, aiming for a modern and professional transport model.
The command and service carriages will be commercially operated on various railway lines or made available for passengers who wish to rent carriages or charter trains next summer.
Vietnam Railways states that the QT3/4 train represents a pilot for a combined "transport - operation - leisure - technology" model, aiming to upgrade the passenger train experience during the digital transformation phase.
Doan Loan
