{"id":32386,"date":"2019-09-17T08:30:15","date_gmt":"2019-09-17T06:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/?p=32386"},"modified":"2025-12-12T00:39:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T23:39:30","slug":"the-next-train-you-take-may-drive-itself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/en\/2019\/09\/the-next-train-you-take-may-drive-itself\/","title":{"rendered":"The Next Train You Take May Drive Itself"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Fully-autonomous vehicles (AV) are poised to change the face of transportation forever. Industry leaders such as BMW, Ford, and Volvo are now working to get driverless cars on the roads \u200b<a href=\"https:\/\/emerj.com\/ai-adoption-timelines\/self-driving-car-timeline-themselves-top-11-automakers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">as early as 2021<\/a>\u200b, but AV isn\u2019t just for automobiles. The technology is increasingly being used to make passenger and freight trains more efficient.<\/p>\n<p>For example, New York\u2019s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in May introduced trains boasting <u>\u200b<\/u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mta.info\/press-release\/nyc-transit\/new-system-faster-more-reliable-service-comes-flushing-line\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">automatic train operation (ATO) technology<\/a>\u200b on its Flushing 7 line which connects Manhattan and Queens. The trains, according to the authority, programmed to provide optimal acceleration, breaking and cruising speeds. Human operators still manage station departures, and control emergency braking.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-32391 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ferrovial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/13142618\/el-proximo-tren-que-tome-podria-conducirse-solo-1-e1568634552646.jpg\" alt=\"Imagen de un tren parado en una estaci\u00f3n\" width=\"600\" height=\"402\" \/><\/p>\n<p>ATO is far from perfect, however. Almost a week after introducing the fully-automated 7 line, MTA ended up taking it offline because some trains were <u>\u200b<\/u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ny1.com\/nyc\/all-boroughs\/transit\/2019\/05\/14\/7-train-automatic-trains-halted-after-trains-blow-past-stations-nyc-mta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">overshooting stations<\/a>\u200b by anywhere from four to six cars. Despite some issues, the authority reportedly intends to conduct additional tests and ultimately expand the technology to other lines within the next decade. You can see the authority\u2019s full modernization plan \u200b<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mta.info\/sites\/default\/files\/mtaimgs\/fast_forward_the_plan_to_modernize_nyct.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>\u200b.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Autonomous Vehicles Around the World<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Autonomous train technology has been around for the last 30 years. What\u2019s more, for over a decade, countries such as Australia, China, Italy, Malaysia, and Singapore have utilized Grade-of-Automation-4 (GoA4) systems that not only operate smoothly but can also address emergency situations if needed. \u200bHowever, in the US, GoA4 systems such as J\u200bohn F. Kennedy Airport\u2019s AirTrain and the ATL Sky Train in Atlanta\u200b have largely been restricted to airport use.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/ghPfNK0PIAeY0\" width=\"600\" height=\"296\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>According to Aaron Steinfeld, \u200bCo-Director of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible Public Transportation at Carnegie-Mellon university, \u200bwhat has changed is the public\u2019s relationship to automation itself.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>We are already seeing movement towards fully automated neighborhood vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the current deployments have operators riding along as monitors, but I suspect we&#8217;ll see fewer in-person monitoring over time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Research also bears Steinfeld\u2019s views out. \u200bAccording to the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) nearly a quarter of public rail transport systems had at least one fully automated line in operation as of December 2018. The organization\u2019s report also noted that the number of automated lines worldwide grew by roughly 27% to 1,026km between 2016 and 2018.<\/p>\n<p>The growing adoption of automated trains comes with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citylab.com\/transportation\/2011\/11\/1-billion-doesnt-buy-much-transit-infrastructure-anymore\/456\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hefty pricetag<\/a>\u200b<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citylab.com\/transportation\/2011\/11\/1-billion-doesnt-buy-much-transit-infrastructure-anymore\/456\/\">s<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citylab.com\/transportation\/2011\/11\/1-billion-doesnt-buy-much-transit-infrastructure-anymore\/456\/\">.<\/a><u>\u200b<\/u> For example, Sao Paulo, Brazil\u2019s 10.9km Yellow Line reportedly cost roughly $1.6 billion, while the estimated cost of Singapore\u2019s 35km Circle Line is closer to $4.8 billion.<\/p>\n<p>Though the costs associated with fully-automated trains can vary according to a number of factors &#8212; including the amount of time the line is in service &#8212; Steinfield said he believes that\u200b there will ultimately come a time where operators are only needed for customer service.<\/p>\n<p>The looming threat of job losses has however engendered some opposition to automation.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-32387\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ferrovial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/13142623\/el-proximo-tren-que-tome-podria-conducirse-solo-2-1-e1568634566805.jpg\" alt=\" Image of a person waiting for the train to stop\" width=\"600\" height=\"399\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Derailing Autonomous Vehicles\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>New York State Senator Kevin Parker in April <a href=\"https:\/\/legislation.nysenate.gov\/pdf\/bills\/2019\/S4890\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">introduced a bil<\/a>\u200b<a href=\"https:\/\/legislation.nysenate.gov\/pdf\/bills\/2019\/S4890\">l<\/a> that would prohibit trains\u200b\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 throughout the state from operating autonomously. The bill &#8212; known as SB4890 &#8212; stipulates that a conductor be present on any subway or train operated by the authority whenever more than two cars are attached to the engine.<\/p>\n<p>Parker and the bill\u2019s co-sponsors assert that a conductor is necessary to assist in the operation of the train, and that they could potentially act as \u201cfirst responders\u201d in the event of a terrorist attack. The bill has yet to make it out of committee.<\/p>\n<p>The threat of terrorist activities akin to a failed 2009 plot by Al Qaeda to attack the New York subway system is very real. But opposition to automation isn\u2019t exclusively rooted in passenger safety.<\/p>\n<p>The Transportation Trades Department which represents AFL-CIO transit workers maintains that as many as <a href=\"https:\/\/ttd.org\/policy\/principles-for-the-transit-workforce-in-automated-vehicle-legislation-and-regulations\/\">3<\/a><u>\u200b<\/u><a href=\"https:\/\/ttd.org\/policy\/principles-for-the-transit-workforce-in-automated-vehicle-legislation-and-regulations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> million people may lose their jobs<\/a> as autonomous vehicles become more commonplace.<\/p>\n<p>The statement reads:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The operators of public transportation systems are critical to the safe and accessible delivery of public transportation, both for the passengers and for all other road users.<\/p>\n<p>Any legislation or regulations designed to facilitate the deployment of automated vehicle technologies must mandate that they remain on-board and available to take over operations, regardless of how far autonomous-vehicle technology develops.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><strong>Government Interest <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The needs of union employees has not put the breaks on automation.\u00a0 Even the US government is pushing for modernization.<\/p>\n<p>The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in May <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanactionforum.org\/insight\/fra-crew-size-withdrawal-holds-lessons-for-other-regulators\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">withdrew a proposed rul<\/a><u>\u200b<\/u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanactionforum.org\/insight\/fra-crew-size-withdrawal-holds-lessons-for-other-regulators\/\">e<\/a> <u>\u200b<\/u>that would have mandated crews of at least two people. Moreover, the agency\u2019s move follows the release of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.railwayage.com\/regulatory\/fra-rfi-automation-railroad-industry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a<\/a>\u200b<a href=\"https:\/\/www.railwayage.com\/regulatory\/fra-rfi-automation-railroad-industry\/\">n<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.railwayage.com\/regulatory\/fra-rfi-automation-railroad-industry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RFI<\/a> in 2018\u00a0which sought information on ways it can support the integration and\u200b\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 implementation of new automation technologies, including ATO.<\/p>\n<p>FRA\u2019s recent actions do not necessarily mean that fully automated trains will become the norm on the nation\u2019s railways. However, it strongly suggests that the agency knows which way the wind is blowing.<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s likely that the FRA\u2019s decision will be challenged in court, it is clear that the incorporation of AV technology for passenger and even freight rail systems will continue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fully-autonomous vehicles (AV) are poised to change the face of transportation forever. Industry leaders such as BMW, Ford, and Volvo are now working to get driverless cars on the roads \u200bas early as 2021\u200b, but AV isn\u2019t just for automobiles. The technology is increasingly being used to make passenger and freight trains more efficient. For [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":32389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"nivel-1":[],"nivel-2":[4746,4807,4786,4770,4725,4811,4797,4758],"nivel-3":[4843],"nivel-4":[],"nivel-5":[],"topic":[7296,7300,7295,7286],"coauthors":[5892],"class_list":["post-32386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","post_format-post-format-image","nivel-2-innovation","nivel-2-passenger-transport","nivel-2-rail-network","nivel-2-rail-operations","nivel-2-train-station","nivel-2-trains","nivel-2-transport-systems","nivel-2-underground","nivel-3-australia-en","topic-construction-and-infrastructure","topic-technology-and-innovation","topic-transportation","topic-transporte"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Next Train You Take May Drive Itself<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The autonomous vehicle technology works itself to passenger and cargo trains around the world.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/en\/2019\/09\/the-next-train-you-take-may-drive-itself\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Next Train You Take May Drive Itself\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The autonomous vehicle technology works itself to passenger and cargo trains around the world.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/en\/2019\/09\/the-next-train-you-take-may-drive-itself\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Ferrovial\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" 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