Parallel Systems is developing what it describes as the world’s first autonomous freight train system, as the broader logistics industry increasingly shifts toward automated and autonomous transportation technologies. The Los Angeles-based company has raised approximately $100 million to date and is currently conducting commercial testing of its autonomous rail vehicles in Georgia in partnership with Genesee & Wyoming under oversight from the Federal Railroad Administration. Founded in 2020 by former SpaceX engineer Matt Soule, the company is attempting to modernize freight rail using electric, autonomous, software-controlled rail vehicles designed to operate without traditional locomotives or onboard engineers. Soule spent 13 years at SpaceX before turning his attention to freight transportation. Autonomous rail cars operate independently Unlike conventional freight trains, Parallel’s vehicles are designed as autonomous battery-electric rail cars, each equipped with its own motors, sensors, braking systems, cameras, lidar, and onboard computers. According to the company, the rail vehicles can operate independently or travel in coordinated groups controlled entirely by software. Speaking to KTLA, Soule said: “You can think of this as the Waymo of light rail.” The system is designed to improve use of existing rail infrastructure by enabling smaller freight movements, shorter-distance routes, and more flexible logistics operations. According to Parallel, each vehicle currently uses six cameras along with lidar sensors to monitor the surrounding environment and support autonomous operation. The company says the vehicles also include multiple redundant braking systems designed to stop faster than conventional locomotives. Targeting short-haul freight dominated by trucks Parallel believes one of the largest opportunities lies in short-distance freight transport – particularly drayage operations linking ports, rail yards, warehouses, and distribution centers. Soule told Benzinga the US freight transportation market generates roughly $900 billion annually, with trucking accounting for approximately $800 billion while rail represents around $80 billion. “The railroads are very