List of semi-automatic train systems
Since the opening of the London Underground Victoria Line in 1967, new metros and urban railways have become more automated. Many lines now operate with driverless trains, with the aim of reducing the operational costs and improving the frequency of service.
This list does not include people mover systems but focuses on trains in the classical sense used for large scale metros and railways.
The list is ordered after the degree of how automatized the train is.
- In a system with ATO like London Underground Victoria Line, the trains run automatically from station to station but a human train driver is always present in the front of the train, with responsibility for door closing, obstacle detection on the track before the train and handling of emergency situations.
- In a driverless system like London Docklands Light Railway, the trains run automatically from station to station but a human Passenger Service Agent is always present somewhere in the train, with responsibility for door closing and handling of emergency situations.
- In a completely driverless system like the Copenhagen Metro, the trains run automatically at all times, handle door closing, obstacle detection and emergency situations, without any regulatory requirement of staff present in the trains.
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Completely driverless systems and lines
Europe
Rennes Metro - VAL type system.
- Toulouse Metro - VAL type system.
- Lille Metro - inaugurated on 25 April 1983, the first using the VAL system.
- Lyon Metro Line D Rubber-tyred trains run automatically with no driver on board, controlled by a system known as MAGGALY (Métro Automatique à Grand Gabarit de l’Agglomération Lyonnaise).
Nuremberg U-Bahn - U3 and U2 lines (manned trains in case of need)
Lausanne Metro - line M2
North America
SkyTrain in Vancouver, BC — the longest driverless network in the world.
South America
São Paulo Metro - Line 4 - Yellow
Asia
Light Rail Transit (Singapore) - Bukit Panjang LRT, Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT All cars are fully automated and driverless.
Japan - Tokyo - Yurikamome
Manned driverless systems and lines
Europe
London Docklands Light Railway opened 1987 (driverless but has a Passenger Service Agent who close the doors and checks tickets during the journey).
Systems and lines with ATO and standby human driver
Europe
- Paris Métro Line 1. Paris metro lines are almost all equipped with low level ATO systems managing speed of the trains in the tunnel sections.
- Paris Métro Line 2
- Paris Métro Line 3
- Paris Métro Line 4
- Paris Métro Line 5
- Paris Métro Line 6
- Paris Métro Line 7
- Paris Métro Line 8
- Paris Métro Line 9
- Paris Métro Line 11
- Paris Métro Line 12
- Paris Métro Line 13
- London's Victoria Line opened 1967 (a member of staff opens & closes the train doors but does not normally drive the trains).
- London's Central Line converted to automated operation in the mid-1990s (a member of staff opens & closes the train doors and only drives the trains on Sundays; at other times trains are computer driven).
- A section of London's Jubilee Line from Stratford to Dollis Hill recently came under automated control (a member of staff opens & closes the train doors). The remainder of the line is anticipated to be automated from summer 2011.[1]
- Glasgow Subway uses driverless trains on its line. The driver checks the way is clear and operates the doors.
- Munich U-Bahn (driver operates the doors and handles emergency situations, accelerating and braking is fully automated; a fully driverless turning at terminus stations is planned)
Vienna U-Bahn (uses the same system as Munich)
North America
- Montreal Metro Line 1 Green, Line 2 Orange and Line 5 Blue, opened in 1966 (Lines 1 and 2) and 1986 (Line 5), operates in ATO mode introduced since 1976. A member of staff closes the train doors (doors are usually opened automatically unless the driver requests otherwise) but does not normally drive the trains.
Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco opened in 1972. (A member of staff closes the train doors but does not normally drive the trains).- PATCO Speedline between Philadelphia and New Jersey operates in automated mode since 1969, but can be overridden by a staff member.
- Washington Metro operates in automated mode, where the driver is responsible for opening and closing of doors and of overriding the system.
Caribbean
Tren Urbano - the entire system is fully automated, but can be over-ridden. Substations providing the power are remotely controlled from a operational control centre.
Asia
- East West MRT Line - the driver opens and closes the doors, and the driver would usually drive the train when the ATO cannot stop the train properly (e.g. in heavy rain), or when ATO breaks down/is not available.
- North South MRT Line - same as the East West MRT Line.
Seoul Subway Line 5 - driver on standby and will drive the train when ATO malfunctions or is not available.
Future system and lines
Brescia, Italy is building a light metro called Metrobus. All technical systems are a copy of the Copenhagen Metro [2]
- Paris Métro Line 1 is being converted to fully driverless automated operations is expected to be completed in 2011.
Macau - driverless elevated lightrail
Pilbara iron ore trains operated by Rio Tinto are proposed to be converted to driverless operation by 2013.[3][4]
- São Paulo Line 4 Line 4 opened in 2010 between the stations Paulista and Faria Lima
- MRT Downtown line Under construction
Taipei Circular Line by Ansaldo CBTC Under construction
Standard systems for driverless operation
- VAL used in Lille, Rennes and other cities.
Defunct systems
- Post Office Railway - subway connected main post offices and railway terminals in London.
- Berlin M-Bahn
See also
References
- ^ Transport for London Tube Upgrade Plan
- ^ Railway Gazette International April 2008, p 227
- ^ The Australian newspaper 29 October 2008 p1
- ^ http://www.mineprocessing.com/News/detail-a135-b2-c0-d0-e0-f.html