Acceptance on the part of drivers Drivers obviously associate the loss of their jobs with train automation. Acceptance on the part of passengers There is widespread unease associated with travelling in a pilotless vehicle. On the other hand, the spreading of driverless people movers and automated metro systems are likely to reduce this scepticism. In the long run, no major acceptance deficits are to be expected, especially if part of the cost savings are transferred to the customer. Technological hurdles Whereas automated metro operation does not seem to meet any major technological obstacles, a driverless main line operation still meets many challenges especially as far as safety is concerned. Serious problems arise in mixed operation and due to the fact that there is no physical protection of the tracks (in contrast to underground metro lines). Transition costs Although driverless operation strongly reduces running costs, the initial investment into infrastructure and vehicles is high. |