A new autonomous freight transport initiative in California is drawing global attention for its combination of advanced engineering and regional revitalisation. Technology company Glīd has partnered with heritage freight operator Mendocino Railway to launch the world’s first autonomous road-to-rail truck along a 40-mile stretch of track known as the Skunk Train route, a corridor steeped in over a century of rail history.

Scheduled to launch later this year, the pilot will test two key vehicle types: the GliderM, a biodiesel hybrid truck that can operate on both road and rail, and the AR2RV, its fully autonomous counterpart. These vehicles are designed to move seamlessly between surface roads and railway tracks, offering a flexible and sustainable freight solution across rugged terrain.

Honouring Legacy, Enabling Innovation

The route, officially the California Western Railroad, connects Willits and Fort Bragg and has historically supported the state’s timber and freight economy. Known for its winding path through Northern California’s redwood forests, it presents a uniquely challenging testbed for autonomous mobility.

Yet this project is about more than just engineering, it also aims to breathe new life into underutilised rail infrastructure, reduce carbon emissions, and improve access to freight services in rural areas. By blending traditional freight operations with autonomous and hybrid technologies, Glīd and Mendocino Railway are positioning the project as a model for short-line railway innovation.

Glīd Technologies’ CEO Kevin Damoa described the initiative as a fusion of “clean, intelligent freight mobility” with a regional asset long preserved by the community. Mendocino Railway’s CEO, Robert Jason Pinoli, echoed this sentiment, calling it a rare opportunity for tradition and technology to thrive together.

Reference
Jedikovska, Georgina 2025, ‘World’s first autonomous road-to-rail truck to launch on California’s Skunk Train route’, Interesting Engineering, viewed 8 May 2025, https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/worlds-first-autonomous-road-to-rail-truck-to-launch-on-californias-skunk-train-route 

Silveira, Bill 2025, Freight Train Gliding Through Scenic Countryside’, Pexels, viewed 8 May 2025, https://www.pexels.com/photo/freight-train-gliding-through-scenic-countryside-30793053/