Railways must embrace automation, but successful deployment of driverless vehicles depends on how well we can overcome technical challenges, suggests PAUL THOMAS, technical director, Rail Consultancy for Atkins
Driverless trains: the Docklands Light Railway is a rare example of this technology in use in the UK. A westbound DLR service departs from East India on 1 September 2019, with the financial district of Canary Wharf dominating the background.
Antony Guppy
Driverless vehicles are going to play a big part in a cleaner, more efficient transport. For most people this means autonomous cars and trucks. However, driverless services also have the power to transform our railways. From greater flexibility in their timetables to more efficient use of energy, driverless operations can unlock improvements in our railways to help meet passenger expectations, improve capacity, increase connectivity, and reduce our carbon footprint.
