User:Sbrgc/Automatic Train Operation

Automatic train operation (ATO) ensures partial or complete automatic train piloting and driverless functions.

Most systems elect to maintain a driver (train operator) to mitigate risks associated with failures or emergencies.

Many modern systems are linked with Automatic Train Control (ATC) where normal signaller operations such as route setting and train regulation are carried out by the system. The ATO and ATC systems will work together to maintain a train within a defined tolerance of its timetable. The combined system will marginally adjust operating parameters such as the ratio of power to coast when moving and station dwell time, in order to bring a train back to the timetable slot defined for it.

Examples
The earliest ATO system on a full Underground line was on the Barcelona Metro line 2 (now integrated on L5), which ran from 1963 until 1970 on its seven trains. Another example was on the Victoria line of the London Underground, opened in 1968. The ATO system performs all functions of the driver except for the opening and closing of the doors. The driver needs only to press two buttons to start the train and, if the way is clear, then the train will automatically proceed to the next station. Many newer systems are now computer-controlled, including London's Docklands Light Railway, the Central Line and Jubilee Line of the London Underground, Line 14 of the Paris Métro, Copenhagen Metro, Kelana Jaya Line of Kuala Lumpur Rail Transit System, the Washington Metro, Hong Kong MTR, Manila Light Rail Transit System, North East Line, Circle Line and the future Downtown Line of Singapore MRT, Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, Kobe Municipal Subway, a number of ART-based and VAL-based systems.

Records
For the purpose of these records, a "driverless" train is defined as one that normally operates fully automatically, with no on-board human intervention.


 * Longest fully automatic driverless network: Vancouver SkyTrain, 68.7 km (42.7 mi) on three lines
 * Longest partially automatic driverless line: Lille Metro Line 2, 31.7 km (19.7 mi)
 * First partially automatic driverless line: London Underground, Victoria Line, 1968
 * First Metro with All Lines system Caracas Metro, 1983


 * Longest fully automatic driverless underground line: Circle MRT Line, Singapore, 35.7 km (22.2 mi)
 * First fully automatic driverless underground line: Paris Métro line 14, Paris, 1998

The Dubai Metro (about 70 km in the first phase, inclding 50 km in one line) and Singapore's Circle MRT Line (33.3 km) are likely to take over the longest network/line and longest underground line records respectively when completed.

The future
Many railways are planning on using ATO in the future. It has been partially implemented on the Delhi Metro with plans of full ATO operations by the year 2013. ATO will be introduced on the London Underground's Northern line in 2012. Although ATO may also be used on the future Crossrail and Thameslink trains, it has not yet been implemented on any UK mainline railways.