• qarbone@lemmy.world
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    11 hours ago

    Are there self-driving trains? Seems like they’re all staffed by a real driver.

    Almost like we’re fine with trying with if only a car- or 2-sworth of people dies, but a train is too many.

    (More likely that nobody cares about trains enough to try)

    • Inucune@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      Many locomotives can be remote controlled. There are spur lines where remote controlled movement is regular enough to have a posted sign warning about it.

    • BlackVenom@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      Some metros are.

      The locomotives/engines themselves for freight and longer distance passenger generally have a crew for the lead loco only… E.g. of the 2-6 engines, one crew for the train even if it’s pushing 2mi long.

      Railroad Co’s definitely care about going driverless… It becomes a safety issue more than anything. One less crew to pay though. Driverless isnt the end goal… There are people controlling safety mechanisms, routes, etc behind the scenes too. After all each engine once had a crew, a caboose for a second crew (replaced by automated, stationary defect/object detectors), and more. While things have gotten safer, it isn’t because less people are involved and large leaps in safety - like brakes - were against RR co’s desires.

    • SuperSpruce@lemmy.zip
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      11 hours ago

      Yes, but mostly in smaller systems like fully-automated airport people-movers and a few light rail systems.

    • Nikelui@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      Not exactly the same, but some metro trains are unmanned. I suspect they are more likely to be remotely driven, though.

      • zemo@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        The metro in Copenhagen is unmanned and automated. But the tracks and the trains themselves are protected by walls so you can’t physically get onto the tracks.