The Monocab system has begun operating on the university campus. The research team behind Monocab has launched its first test route, which currently covers only a short distance. The campus version of Monocab is based on a concept originally designed for use on abandoned railway lines, where a single rail is used for travel in each direction.

Unlike the initial idea, the campus system features a newly constructed track on which Monocab moves, balancing on the rail. This approach allows for greater flexibility in infrastructure placement and maintains a compact footprint. At this early stage, there is no need to modify existing railway tracks for vehicle turnaround or switching to the opposite rail for return trips. The ability to perform such maneuvers has not yet been implemented.

The campus route can be organized as a loop or as a back-and-forth line. In the future, the development and implementation of railway switches are planned to increase operational flexibility, though this presents a significant technical challenge.

The campus railway project aims to explore these issues. The research also involves Fraunhofer IOSB-INA, which has provided additional data. The project is funded with $5.12 million, and one of the goals is to demonstrate specialized switches and turnouts for Monocab by the end of November 2026.

According to the project website, the Monocab system has reached Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5), which corresponds to a test installation in a working environment. The current system builds on research conducted from 2021 to 2023, which confirmed the basic feasibility of the concept, although at that time the vehicle could only move along a single rail without switching. The next step will be TRL 6—a prototype in a real-world environment, for which the campus railway is suitable. The vehicle, named Thusnelda, is undergoing initial tests on a 20-meter section at the Innovation Campus of Lemgo University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Eastern Westphalia-Lippe (TH OWL). By the end of the year, construction of a 300-meter route, including curves and gradients, is expected to be completed. Work is scheduled to begin in the fall.

The Monocab team is pursuing several research directions, and the campus railway is just one of the options. The goal is to reach Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL 9) on an abandoned line in Extertal by 2028, which would mean a qualified system with proven successful operation. Alternatively, only TRL 8—a qualified system with confirmed functionality—may be achieved, as this level is also listed as a target for 2028. TRL 8 could be completed in 2029, with work on TRL 9 starting in 2030. The Monocab roadmap, published in early 2025, provides different timelines: according to it, Monocab should be operational at the International Garden Exhibition (IGA), which opens in April 2027.

There are also plans to present the Monocab concept at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin. It remains unclear whether the planned deadlines will be met and whether switches and track changes will be demonstrated by then. The issue of vehicle turnaround also remains unresolved, as the asymmetric design typically requires a turnaround loop or turntable for bidirectional operation on abandoned railway lines. This is due to the need to ensure clearance when two vehicles pass each other on a conventional railway. Monocab aims to make maximum use of this space, but can only do so from one side.