Intramotev will deploy two autonomous freight railcars on Missouri’s Columbia Terminal Railroad as part of a project supported by a $16.2 million federal grant awarded to the City of Columbia.
The Federal Railroad Administration selected the city for funding under its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, according to a release from Intramotev. Intramotev will serve as the technology partner, deploying its TugVolt technology on COLT’s 21.4-mile line between Centralia and Columbia. TugVolt is a battery-electric railcar that can move itself, without a locomotive. The City of Columbia will contribute a 22.2% cost share, FRA said, with infrastructure upgrades covering tie replacement.
Operations will proceed in phases under an FRA-approved test program, beginning with remote switching at COLT’s Columbia terminal and advancing to autonomous freight service across the full mainline, including its public crossings.
“Short lines keep America’s small cities and rural communities connected to the freight network,” said Tim Luchini, Intramotev’s chief executive. “Autonomous railcars can help them serve more customers, more often, at lower cost, and this program will show what that looks like on a working mainline.”
COLT is a municipally owned short line operated by Columbia City Utilities. Intramotev will build both TugVolt units at its St. Louis facility. The carrier handles 600 carloads a year, according to 2025 published data. Freight includes metal products, chemicals, lumber and sheetrock.
“COLT has been Columbia’s link to the national rail network for nearly 40 years, and the businesses that depend on it support hundreds of local jobs,” said Erin Keys, the city’s utilities director. “This federal investment lets us modernize the railroad, strengthen service for our customers, and put Columbia at the forefront of rail innovation.”
The project is intended to produce a safety record that FRA and the more than 600 U.S. short-line railroads can use as a template for adopting autonomous railcars, according to the Intramotev release. It did not specify a deployment date or a timetable for moving from terminal switching to full-line service.
The award follows other developments for Intramotev this year. In April, the company announced an agreement with Austria’s OBB Rail Cargo Group. In June, U.S. Army Reserve soldiers trained on TugVolt technology during a planned technology assessment.
Why it matters: COLT is a testbed, a small, working railroad where autonomous railcars could demonstrate whether short lines can provide more frequent freight service at lower cost. It also preserves local businesses’ connection to Norfolk Southern and the national rail network.
This article was updated Oct. 22 to add details about TugVolt, COLT freight, and the City of Columbia’s cost share.
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