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Thameslink to replace drivers with computers
Terry Kirby16 Apr 2009
THE Thameslink train now arriving at platform one is being driven... by a computer.
New plans for the congested north-south route through London could make the operator's trains the first on any mainline commuter network in the world to be computer-controlled.
Train managers believe the use of Automatic Train Control systems -already in use in some underground lines and the Docklands Light Railway - are needed to ensure the line can handle 24 trains an hour from 2015.
A spokeswoman for Network Rail said today: ''This is a very exciting development."
She stressed it would only be introduced for trains on the central section of the line through the capital, which is the most congested and would be a boon for commuters. Current plans envisage doubling the number of trains in the central section to 16 per hour over the next two years and 24 an hour by 2015, with a possibility of up to 30 an hour if necessary.
Thameslink, which connects Bedford in the north to Brighton in the south, suffers from severe overcrowding.
It is currently the subject of a £5 billion upgrade programme involving longer trains, bigger platforms and rebuilding stations at Blackfriars, London Bridge and Farringdon.
Network Rail likened the automatic train control system to the automatic pilot used on aircraft.
The driver remains in the cab and pushes buttons to allow the train to leave each station, but the train is driven by computer to the next stop. Manual systems are retained to allow the driver to override the automatic system in an emergency. Automatic systems were first introduced in London in 1967 when the Victoria line was opened and is now also used on the Central line. In the DLR system, computers control the trains remotely without any drivers.
Use of the system on mainline services is considered more problematic because of the bigger, heavier trains and more complicated signalling systems.
Currently, the only mainline trains controlled by ATC systems are on sections of Spain's high speed network, but its introduction on the Thameslink line could make it the first commuter network to be run in this fashion.
NR says that only computer- controlled trains are capable of achieving the necessary consistency of driving and timing to allow increased train frequency.
Reader views (10)
"yerrorists (sic) will be able to blow up trains without drivers." - Keith Price, Luton, England
It's not surprising Luton's residents have the reputation they have with ill thought out comments like that!
- Paul, Fulham, 16/04/2009 16:48
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Great idea until the first one crashes after some little herbert put debris on the line.
It works on the DLR bacuse it is a small railway, festooned with CCTV, and images relayed to a central control centre. In addition, some drivers man trains and act as ticket inspectors in each direction, and provide additional eyes and ears for the control room.
Rememebers too, this country still does not have the promised systems recommended after previous crash related reports - its too expensive. (Billions)
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 16/04/2009 14:31
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The proposal is only for this central section (i.e Blackfriars to Kentish Town or possibilly including London Bridge and Elephant and Castle) and so a driver will remain inplace as on the Victoria Line.
Its simply that machines are better than people in some jobs the main trouble comes from those who force doors open and push themselves on. (This can be fun on C2C when they do this at West Ham and find the next stop is Basildon or Benfleet!)
Paris has a network of driverless metro lines and they seem to work ok while the DLR shows how it can be done here in London.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 16/04/2009 14:24
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How on earth do computerised trains help terrorists? "
Obvious. People have eyes and can see, and they have brains and can think - computers co none of the above. Just as criminals have worked out how to beat "chip and pin" so yerrorists will be able to blow up trains without drivers.
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 16/04/2009 13:46
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What a load of rubbish they can't even run trains that are clean or warm in the winter or cool in the summer FCC say a lot but achieve very little. I live in Bedford and it is clear to me that the service has been in decline ever since FCC took on the franchise.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England, 16/04/2009 13:45
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How on earth do computerised trains help terrorists? The results of blowing up a train will be the same whether it's driven by human or by computer. Other trains would stop at the red signals, and blowing up the control centre would turn all the signals red. The same is true of current manual systems. It's called "fail safe".
However, if there's no driver, there's a conductor on each train (like the DLR). An extra pair of eyes won't encourage terrorists, it might even deter them. And it will certainly make life harder for fare dodgers!
- Nigel, London, 16/04/2009 12:58
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Does this mean a reduction in fares? After all FCC drivers are paid very well compared to bus drivers.
- Michael, London, 16/04/2009 12:10
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I like the idea. London's transport network needs to be more reliable and there needs to be more services across the board. The only safe way is to automate. Commerical passenger jets have used computers to take off and land for years. What's so scary about letting a computer deal with running a train. Surely it's a lot easier to drive a train than land a plane. It's not even as if they're planning to remove the driver although that wouldn't bother me either. The DLR works well without them.
- Dale, London, 16/04/2009 11:59
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What a crazy recipe for terrorism success in our capital city. Are we trying to make it wasier for these people ?
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 16/04/2009 11:11
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eeek - never have I been so relieved to have given up my long-suffering commuter status ...
- Marianne, SW France, 16/04/2009 11:00
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