Are trains driven automatically?

Today, there is a higher degree of automation than ever on heavy, inter-city and high speed train services. However, just as with aircraft, there is still always a driver or engineer on board, with various levels of control, as well as overall management of the train, rather like a ship's captain.



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Starting and stopping are automated, but a train attendant operates the doors and drives the train in case of emergencies. In this system, trains run automatically from station to station but a staff member is always in the train, with responsibility for handling of emergency situations.

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Airplanes have long been capable of flying on their own, Google's self-driving car has racked up more than 300,000 miles on public roads and trains... well, trains still rely upon a guy in the cab to keep them going.

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Locomotive engineers drive passenger and freight trains, while conductors manage the activities of the crew and passengers on the train. Conductors may take payments or tickets from passengers and assist them when they have any difficulties. They may also oversee the loading and unloading of cargo.

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Deutsche Bahn and Siemens have developed the world's first train that runs by itself, the two groups said in a statement. The technology does not require a specific track as the autonomous train runs on the same network as those operated by drivers.

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The position of the train driver differs from that of the conductor in that the former is in charge of running the locomotive while the latter manages the cars, including the crew, passengers and their activities.

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Deutsche Bahn (DB), in partnership with Siemens Mobility, has developed the world's first fully automated driverless train in Germany.

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The first automated metro line in the European Union was launched in the French city of Lille in 1983. Initially, it consisted of 12 stations. Since that time, Lille Metro has been developed significantly. Now, it includes two fully automated lines with 60 stations.

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The driverless Shinkansen tests have so far taken place on the northernmost section of the Joetsu Shinkansen Line, which is not used by commercial traffic. This 5km-long section runs from Niigata station to the stock depot at Higashi-Niigata.

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Metro plans to return to automatic train operation, which means train operators will no longer be responsible for driving, starting, stopping, or opening doors. Operators will still have to close train doors and respond to any emergencies.

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Each train is assigned one locomotive engineer, except on certain segments of some long-distance routes where crew changes are too far apart and/or there are relatively long stretches of overnight running.

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Neither the conductor nor the engineer is allowed to sleep on the train. They must be awake and alert throughout their entire shift. So, where do they sleep? After their shift, conductors and engineers sleep either at home or in a motel at an away terminal.

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Yes, locomotive engines typically have a toilet, also known as a lavatory or restroom, for the use of the crew members who operate the train.

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Now, battery power is coming to trains, in place of the diesel-fueled generators that have powered locomotives for more than a century. Last week, Union Pacific Railroad agreed to buy 20 battery electric freight locomotives from Wabtec and Progress Rail.

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