Next Stop for the Subway, a Fully Automated Future

After several years of installation work and testing, New York City Transit is finally close to unveiling its first computer-controlled train line. A rollout of the $287 million system will begin in October and continue through next spring on an overhauled L line. At first, train operators will remain in control, but when the computer-based system becomes fully operational, probably sometime in May, trains will essentially drive themselves from station to station in fully automatic mode.

The spacing of trains, their speeds and when they start and stop will be entirely controlled by a complicated system of onboard and remote computers that communicate with each other via radio signals. Operators will continue to ride in the front cab in case of emergency, but their only job will be to push a button in front of them periodically to alert the rail control center that they are paying attention.

And if all goes according to plan, in a few decades hence, all New York City subway trains will run in the same way, without human help.

Link to full article (requires free resgistration):

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/23/nyreg ... ubway.html

And if all goes according to plan, in a few decades hence, all New York City subway trains will run in the same way, without human help

Without human help? There are train operators in BART, WMATA, and the first such system, PATCO. If they make it like the EWR monorail or the Docklands Light Rail in London England, things will not be copesetic (or safe IMHO).

This is merely the first step towards more personnel elimination. It is funny how the more people you get rid of, the higher your costs go, eh...? No transit agency has ever cut personnel to the point where they were breaking even or generated a surplus.

Funny how most LRT operations are leery of total automation though, isn't it...?

I believe the TO will open/closes doors make annoucements and take over in an emergency. London's Victoria line, WMATA, LA Metro and the Baltimore Metro is like this.

That's right, Mr. 7 Train, but the TTC Toronto Transit Commission's Scarborough RT Shuttle is also operated automatically, although there's an attendant up front at the cab.

PATH is also working on a driverless train, I'm sure the technology will be in the new cars they are ordering, but not immediately used.

Automation takes brains and guts. New York does not have it. The MBTA Red Line's 1800 series cars have the capability for full ATO. But, the T will not go through with it. The trains communicate with the circuits.