An automated hatch system for hopper railcars having a unitary hatch; guide assemblies connecting one longitudinal side of the top of the railcar to the hatch, each guide assembly has a lower mount mounted on the lateral edge of the top of the railcar; an upper mount mounted to a lateral edge of the hatch and having rollers on its outer edges for rollable engagement with a guide, the guide extending between the lower mount and the upper mount; a drive tube slidingly engaged through the lower mount; and means for moving the drive tube longitudinally between a closed position and an open position.