HONOLULU — Project leaders with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and its contractor, Ansaldo Hawaii Joint Venture, will start testing the agency’s rail equipment under its own power for the first time, Hawaii News Now reports.

The tests, which are expected to begin this week, will be the first time the rail equipment has operated under its own power. While operators will be on board for the tests, the equipment is designed to be driverless and fully automated once it enters revenue service.

Testing the rail equipment will also give workers the opportunity to review acceleration and operational characteristics at different load conditions and speeds. The equipment is designed to operate at speeds up to 55 mph.

Honolulu’s rail transit system is using 20 Hitachi Rail Italy four-car trainsets. When open for service, the 20-mile rail corridor will connect Honolulu’s major residential areas with commercial areas in the city’s downtown area.

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