[SystemSafety] underground trains without drivers

[Robin Cook]

On the general subject.

 

For one man operation trains it makes more sense to automate the driving
role and leave a person to deal with people. Over-ground as well as
underground. It is then a useful step to train the 'guard' to act as a
driver in degraded modes.

 

Docklands Light Railway fitted the capability of moving to no-man operation
back in 1992 with controls on the outside so that a train could be
despatched from the platform. Does anyone know if they have ever had the
courage to use this option?

 

As for Peter's divergent thread on road traffic. That's a different ball
game. Trains are well regulated. You know what is on the line (apart from
the odd track trolley - and the maintainers are trained not to leave them
lying around). Water traffic could be worse - there's no law against putting
to sea in a bathtub. However the Automatic Identification System (AIS)
already broadcasts position including speed, turn rate etc. for bigger
vessels. Can anyone comment on the spread of automation on water?

 

I am aware of three bow on stern collisions in two years in the English
Channel a few years ago. That was automatic navigation and failure to keep a
satisfactory look-out using navigation systems that were so accurate that
when everyone put the same turning points in they all followed the same
course to with a ship's beam. Nor did they have automatic separation
systems. Even with AIS now, that is only mandatory on larger vessels and can
be switched off (functionality provided for pirate infested waters!).

 

Best regards

Robin Cook

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