The DLR isn't really driverless 'While our trains are mostly automated, a passenger service agent like me drives them to and from the depot and has to operate them manually if they break down. There are hidden controls at the front, where everyone wants to sit.

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in London was designed as a driverless system from its inception in the 1980s primarily for operational efficiency and cost reduction. Because the trains are controlled by a central computer system, the DLR can maintain a much higher frequency and tighter "headway" (time between trains) than a manually operated system, as computer reactions are faster and more consistent than human ones. This automation also allows for greater flexibility; the system can quickly add or remove trains from the line in response to real-time passenger demand without needing to coordinate driver shifts. Instead of a driver, each train has a Passenger Service Agent (PSA) on board who is responsible for checking tickets, ensuring passenger safety, and manually taking control of the train in the event of a system failure. This model has proven so successful and reliable over the decades that it served as a primary blueprint for other automated metros worldwide. Additionally, the lack of a driver's cab allows for the famous "front seat" view, where passengers can pretend to "drive" the train through the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf.