On 16 Sep 2005 13:44:36 GMT someone who may be David Nutter
<
[email protected]> wrote this:-
>A related, simpler, domain is the automation of trains on subway and
>overground lines; this has shown some promising results but I'd be wary of
>generalising it just yet.
Very wise. Such systems work reasonably well with one type of train
and one type of service, generally underground. Where such services
are operated on or above the ground the relatively low speeds mean
that the weather doesn't cause too many problems.
>Getting automated freight running onto the rail
>network would be a good step in the right direction,
I suggest that one would still need someone on each train, to deal
with anything out of the ordinary [1] that happens. Humans are good
at dealing with the unusual, computers are not so good. Given that
there is someone on the train does it not make sense for them to
drive the train, not the least to give them something to do? This
will also mean that they keep their driving skills up. If they only
drive when the computer goes wrong they may have lost their touch.
Most freight trains have been operated with a driver only for two
decades, so computerising would not save any wages unless the person
on the train could be removed.
These considerations are amongst the reason why the latest
"automated" lines have tended to feature the driver driving the
train, most of the time, with the computer keeping an eye on things.
>though I doubt the unions would like it much.
The railway trade unions, for all their faults, have caused
relatively little trouble as massive changes were made to the
industry. Freight trains were operated with three people in 1970, by
1985 that was one. There have been similar reductions in other
areas, such as signalling staff.
[1] Things out of the ordinary range from the more common but less
dramatic to the very rare but very dramatic. One example of the
former is a driver spotting a large animal on or near the line and
reporting it so that other trains can be cautioned. Another example
is a broken coupling. When this happens the brakes will be
automatically applied on both halves of the train and bring them
both to a stand. However, this could be in the middle of nowhere and
it is very useful to have someone on the train who might be able to
get it going again with minimal delay. An example of the very rare
but very dramatic is a major crash, where designated staff have to
act very quickly to avoid the possibility of another train crashing.
--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
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