The Vancouver (Canada) SkyTrain also operates driverless. It is the same
technology as the Docklands LR. There are roving fare inspectors (POP
system), but I don't think they are dedicated one per train.
Somebody mentioned the VAL system in Lyon. There are also many driverless,
attendant-less shuttle systems in various airports around the world.
Some subway/metro/underground systems alleviate passenger concerns about
deserted late night trains by operating shorter trains during these hours,
so that the few passengers are concentrated into fewer cars. Some places
address this concern by not operating service all night. :-) Toronto has a
'designated waiting area' in each station with an intercom to the station
attendant and CCTV, so anybody who is concerned about being attacked on the
platform can wait at that location.
As for trains derailing or otherwise getting stuck in the tunnels: that is a
rare enough occurrence (or should be!) that it is hard to use such a unusual
event as justification for keeping a person on every train at all times.
RK> I have reservations about the train captains because
there is only 1 per train when units are coupled together. Depending on the
person concerned, you may or may not see anyone.
But this is true of long subway trains in many cities at all times of the
day, whether they have one driver at the front, or a driver and conductor.
OK, back to the original point:
fjw>``A major
>barrier to implementation of bus rapid transit ideas is simply
>psychological,'' he said. While L.A. officials talk about building a
>network of faster and more reliable buses and even painting them
>differently--in gold--to reflect the new ``gold standard'' of bus
>service, how do they overcome that public perceptions that riding a bus
>in L.A. is a Job-like ordeal suffered only by the poor and car-less.
I think this psychological factor is more important in the USA than in most
other places. Over the decades, American transit has been allowed to run
down to the point that it has been viewed as a transport method for poor
people only (with the associated racist and classist overtones that go along
with it). Over the last decade or two, rail systems have had much success in
attracting back people of higher socio-economic status, but many of the bus
systems still serve predominantly the no-so-nice neighbourhoods, and the
buses themselves have suffered from vandalism, graffiti, lack of
maintenance, etc.
Obviously this is all a stereotype that doesn't apply to every situation,
but this is the image that transit in the USA must overcome. I don't think
it's as large a problem in other countries such as Canada and the UK. Ottawa
(Canada), for example, has built a very success busway rapid transit system.
--------------
Colin R. Leech - Transit Planner
Planificateur du transport en commun
OC Transpo - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
(613) 842-3636 ext. 2354
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