Parallel Systems, (“Parallel”) the world’s leading autonomous freight rail company and Agility’s corporate venture arm today announced a strategic collaboration to develop, commercialise, finance and deploy autonomous rail freight systems across the GCC, wider EMEA region and other international markets. Agility is a global owner, operator and long-term investor in logistics, transportation and strategic infrastructure.
The collaboration will combine Parallel’s autonomous rail platform with Agility’s market access, logistics expertise, infrastructure development capabilities, relationships with regional stakeholders and reach across the freight and supply chain ecosystem.
Parallel’s system uses autonomous, battery-electric vehicles that operate on existing rail infrastructure, self-sort and assemble into platoons, and integrate with rail control and business systems. The platform is designed to provide more flexible and frequent service on shorter, lower-density routes, including port shuttles, connections to inland logistics facilities, and city-to-city moves. Parallel’s vehicles can haul intermodal containers for up to 500 miles on a single charge, potentially reducing port congestion, container dwell times and short-haul truck movements.
“Parallel enables railroads to handle shorter, lower-density routes competitively, allowing shippers to use rail for short-haul freight that previously required trucks, making rail more competitive with trucking while reducing road congestion,” said Arun Gupta, Parallel Systems’ Executive Chairman. “Major railroads in the U.S. have begun adopting Parallel’s platform and we believe there is a significant opportunity to bring our revolutionary transportation system to the GCC and EMEA,” added Mr. Gupta.
“With major rail and port projects advancing across the GCC, now is the time to build technology into the region’s infrastructure and resilience plans,” said Tarek Sultan, Agility Chairman. “Digital systems and physical infrastructure must work together to create more connected, flexible and resilient supply chains. Autonomous rail could help unlock additional port capacity and improve container flows, from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea gateways to major ports on the Gulf and Arabian Sea. As the GCC’s railway networks take shape, the region has an opportunity to future-proof these investments by incorporating autonomous, battery-electric technology with safety designed in from the outset.”
Under the collaboration, the parties will embark on a roadmap that addresses regional adaptation, testing, addressing regulatory approvals and all other protocols to enable Parallel to become fully operational in the region.
The parties will initially focus on identifying priority corridors and commercially viable opportunities where autonomous rail can strengthen regional freight connectivity.
