Re: Driverless trains in USA

[Marvin The Martian <choochoo@spin.net.au>]

That is the reason there is a guy up front pressing a button every so often
but not driving. But it would only work in the city I think.

RT wrote:

> Taliesin Walker wrote:
>
> > >
> > Not in my opinion. It would be difficult to central control trains
> > when they operate on track with level crossings, pedestrain crossings
> > and freight trains. It seems to me that you would always need someone
> > up the front to respond immediately to an emergancy, so why bother
> > spending any money automate the system in the first place?
>
> To save money.
>
> No - not wages :-) - from reduction of energy consumed.
>
> Considerable research work going on at Centre for Railway Engineering
> here (Rocky) to get improved driving techniques for energy reduction
> particularly on the heavy haul stuff (22,000 tons).
> Big, big bikkies from even 1% energy saving.
> This is heading toward either full automation or driver augmentation - a
> bit like current airliners.
>
> Can't see any likelihood of driverless trains here for the reasons you
> give.   Recent example - young driver rolled his car out west from here
> and ended up on the tracks.   Got out without a scratch.
> Train coming.   Stood watching train hit car.  Immediately afterwards he
> was injured when hit by his car!
>
> With such rank stupidity about there's got to be a driver :-)