The Role of the Onboard Operator in Automated Rapid Rail Transit

A study of automatic train control systems used in rail rapid transit systems with various levels of automation revealed: full automation, now possible, does not preclude the onboard operator as a safety element. Elimination of the operator necessitates extremely high levels of guideway protection. Where such protection is impossible operator viglance must be maintained through assignment of non-trivial tasks. The. functions most difficult to automate are right-of-way surveillance and door operation. In new systems automation level should be based on local transportation needs derived from system studies and verified through simulation.