PURPOSE: To realize complete unmanned operation of motive power units and travel control of plural motive power units by carrying out automatic travel control on the motive power units in a heading according to an operation program preset or indicated from an aboveground control device in an automatic travel control device to control automatically travel of the motive power units for the heading.

CONSTITUTION: An automatic travel control device is composed of an on-vehicle device 20, a track side device 30 and an aboveground control device 40. The on-vehicle device 20 has an inductive radio device and a receiver and the like to carry out bidirectional communication between them and the aboveground control device 40. The track side device 30 has induction lines 31 and 32 and a transmitter 33 to indicate an increase and a decrease in speed or stopping to motive power units by being detected by the receiver. The aboveground control device 40 controls bidirectional communication between the on-vehicle device 20 and an aboveground control panel 41 and travel of motive power units 1 by detecting output of the transmitter 33 by the receiver, and displays present positions and travel information of the motive power units 1 on a display device 43.