L Trains Run Entirely By Computer, Starting Tomorrow

Good point MT, as I remember this being a big point of the TWU during the strike 3 years ago.

I've never been to Paris, but I hear their Metro runs mostly on computer. Unfortunately, something the Frenchies do a lot better than the Americans is build trains effectively and efficiently, so I doubt the MTA could pull off the same feat without screwing up.

Will these operate like the BART cars in the bay area? If so I'm sure the idiots at the MTA will manage to screw it up.

Almost all European transit runs completely automated.

MTA own figures show the average motorman makes $63,000. Oh, they also get to retire with a fully funded state pension, pay $0 towards health care, and have that health care for life.

Vancouver, BC has a whole city of computer-operated trains, made by the company that makes the AirTrain.

A conductor will still also be in the middle of the car to close the doors. Really the only benefit of this whole thing is run the trains more efficiently (aka closer together).

Seems like a Bad idea to me. The more complicated the system, the easier to foul up.

If someone does get injured, do they do a drug test on the train's Computer?

Just wondering.

humanity's fading relevance

hahahahhaahah

I for one am happy about this. I am sick of my lorimer to 8th avenue commute taking 30 min in the morning.

There are two modes in which these trains can be run. Automatic Train Protection Mode allows the train to be operated normally, except that the system will limit speeds and make sure that safe distance is maintained between trains. If there's a work crew on the tracks, additionally, that will be "in the system" and the train will be limited to 10 mph.

in Automatic Train Operations mode the operator closes the doors but the train runs automatically between stations. The operator has access to an emergency brake.

For the time being there'll still be both an operator and a conductor during the times of day that there now is, as required by the contract between the MTA and TWU. The L is already OPTO (one person train operation) late night and on weekends.

Once, riding the airtran (which as most know is automated and without a motorman of any human kind) from jfk to jamaica station, I noticed the train was moving slower and slower. It would speed up after a moment only to slow even more. This went on for about three minutes and while it did I could see airtrans on the opposite track slowing and stopping completely. Eventually the "tran" I and others were riding stopped completely. On the opposite track an Airtran pulled up and also stopped. Both trans were on the stretch of track above the Van Wyck Expressway. About fifteen minutes passed before a line of men approached walking along the track walkway. They opened the door from the outside, entered and drove the train manually. I assume we would have never gotten off of there without human intervention.

So L train riders pack rat repellent and waterproof uggs or converse, cause the walk through a subway tunnel under the East River's a stank wet bitch.

from what i heard, the reason why singapore started banning chewing gum was because some kids stuck their chewing gum on subway / MRT door, and since their subway was all computer automated, the door detected foreign object and wouldnt close up, and supposedly brought the whole system down for few hours.

a week or so later, the government banned chewing gum.

So, who holds the train when there's just too many people or the movement getting on and off the train is slower than usual?

Well, maybe if trains did run on schedule and people was certain that another one is coming in 4 minutes, they'll be more willing to let the train go. Not like the F train during morning rush hour, I always have to wait 10-15 minutes!!!!!

ONWARD & UPWARD

One train's automated

Say MTA releases

With more to follow suit

Just like fare increases.

Funny how some commenters whine about everything yet know nothing about how things work.

While I agree the significance of token booth clerks is debatable, the drivers of the trains, the conductor and the dispatchers do a very complicated dance to make the subways work. Seriously. They have to run the entire antiquated system with educated guesswork, because the system cannot track the precise location of the train within a safe distance. Most lines, at the most, can only tell if a train was at the stop before. But even that's still done manually, by a human. This means for the dispatcher, stops that are far apart can only reliably tell that one train was at the previous stop X minutes ago. Experience and training is the only thing stopping the trains from ramming into each other at 50mph, not computers. Considering the volume of trains running through the city during rush hour, this is an amazing feat.

The L-Train is the only line that has been completely overhauled to be able to sense the precise location of the train. That's what "automated train" means. The dispatcher no longer has to take an educated guess of where the train is, the computer takes care of it. This means a lot more trains can go one after another during rush hour, like in London for instance. This will mean less people holding the door, as the sign above will say "next train 1 minute" instead of "next train 10 minutes."

The thing is, the whole system would be modernized like this if people paid for it. In Europe, their taxes are higher, their fares are higher, their subways don't run after hours, or their subway systems are smaller than ours.