I grew up in the '60's in the Victoria area of London. I was excited seeing the works going on, especially in and around Oxford Circus, where we did a lot of the weekly shop (Lena's and Schmidts dellis in Soho). I remember that line opening in 1967, the trains were automated from the outset but still had a driver to press the start button. Had to take a ride to the end of the line.
If you have a simple linear and encapsulated route automation I suppose should be relatively straightforward. However, when you get to more complex pathing, mixing express, commuter and freight operations, you then will probably get into the need to decrease the density of trains to create the safety margins required. Ironic when you look at the Thameslink application of automation to promote frequency on a selective common part of a number of routes. But you still need someone there if a system fails. Although that would never have saved all those poor souls who were lost in the Old Street disaster. There the failed component appeared to be human. The £7 billion quote was just for the TfL operated area never mind the rest of the soon to be Great British Railway network, even more irony. Driverless buses anyone ? Max
If you have a simple linear and encapsulated route automation I suppose should be relatively straightforward. However, when you get to more complex pathing, mixing express, commuter and freight operations, you then will probably get into the need to decrease the density of trains to create the safety margins required. Ironic when you look at the Thameslink application of automation to promote frequency on a selective common part of a number of routes. But you still need someone there if a system fails. Although that would never have saved all those poor souls who were lost in the Old Street disaster. There the failed component appeared to be human. The £7 billion quote was just for the TfL operated area never mind the rest of the soon to be Great British Railway network, even more irony. Driverless buses anyone ? Max
