Name: These Trains Take Over for Their Drivers to Cut Travel Time
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To keep trains running on schedule, a new feature allows them to reverse direction and change tracks while the driver walks to the other end.

Can trains save their drivers time by changing direction on their own?

These Trains Take Over for Their Drivers to Cut Travel Time

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To keep trains running on schedule, a new feature allows them to reverse direction and change tracks while the driver walks to the other end.

Can trains save their drivers time by changing direction on their own?

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These Trains Take Over for Their Drivers to Cut Travel Time Published February 3, 2023NARRATOR: With only two and a half minute gaps in between trains, running a fault-free service to time will be a challenge. To do this, they will need to use a radical new feature called auto-reverse. During rush hour, trains sometimes need to switch direction to relieve the busy central stations. To avoid the driver having to walk 650 feet to the cab at the other end, wasting valuable minutes, these trains have a much quicker solution. When they need to do a fast turnaround to head back into the West End from Paddington Station, the driver activates an auto-reverse feature that allows the train to drive itself. In this mode, when the computer takes over, it swaps tracks and changes direction. As it moves back into the tunnels, the driver is free to walk to the cab at the other end of the train. Auto-reverse is key to the railway hitting it's 24 train per hour target. The early tests of its software demonstrated that it was safe. In West London, driver Emma Knowles will be at the controls of one of the trains.EMMA KNOWLES: Okay. At 24 trains per hour, this is a biggie today, but it's going to be fine. It's all going to work.NARRATOR: Emma pulls into Paddington.EMMA KNOWLES: There we go.NARRATOR: Here, she will attempt to put the train into auto-reverse to turn it around and travel back in the opposite direction.EMMA KNOWLES: Is everybody off that needs to be off? Because I'm closing the doors now. Alright, auto-reverse. Auto-reverse.NARRATOR: With auto-reverse activated, Emma's train should now automatically move forward around a mile to change tracks, stop, switch direction, and head back east into the tunnels.EMMA KNOWLES: So as we come out, we're going to come out into daylight to Westbourne Park sidings and it's safety. Check there's no trespassers. And if there is a trespasser, emergency stop.NARRATOR: For those used to driving trains manually. The auto mode takes some getting used to.EMMA KNOWLES: That's scary. No driver, that is so scary! Mild heart attack. Oh. It's a very, very, it's a very strange feeling that I'm meant to be driving it.

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These Trains Take Over for Their Drivers to Cut Travel Time

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