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One of my friends is a train engineer. I can tell you that it's ABSURD how little automation is used in many train systems, and it's definitely not because of a

One of my friends is a train engineer. I can tell you that it's ABSURD how little automation is used in many train systems, and it's definitely not because of a lack of technology. To give an example, my friend has to memorize the required speeds for each different section and turn in every train he runs, and has to manually adjust the train's speed accordingly. Literally all of that can and should be done automatically, but the industry hasn't caught up with what is technologically possible.

manmal 9y ago
I would not want to ride a train where a memorization error can lead to a crash.
Theodores 9y ago
In Japan it works the same way, although, as everywhere outside of the USA, automation is coming/inevitable. The white glove pointing is all about being on time, it is a discipline and hitting those exactly on time arrival-departures comes down to train drivers knowing what speed they are doing without looking at instruments, which are covered during training. Maybe the Danes have their own variation of this obsessive stop-watch training. A system that works efficiently does not have to be computerised, fantastic teamwork and dedicated professionalism can suffice. In other endeavours, we still have not fully automated coffee, instead of a perfectly adequate beverage from a machine some prefer a human operator to operate the machine as if it was some rocket-surgery skill/craft. I don't think train operation is like that, a faux professionalism, maybe programming is nearer the mark, some programmers use a text editor which is ridiculous when they could use an IDE. Furthermore some programmers roll their own code rather than just re-use some existing module.
wang_li 9y ago
Systems to manage train speed already exist, it's just that operating companies have not deployed them fully. It's required by law that these systems be in place, but either they've requested waivers, or the law keeps being amended to accommodate their failure to deploy.

manmal 9y ago

I would not want to ride a train where a memorization error can lead to a crash.

Theodores 9y ago

In Japan it works the same way, although, as everywhere outside of the USA, automation is coming/inevitable. The white glove pointing is all about being on time, it is a discipline and hitting those exactly on time arrival-departures comes down to train drivers knowing what speed they are doing without looking at instruments, which are covered during training. Maybe the Danes have their own variation of this obsessive stop-watch training. A system that works efficiently does not have to be computerised, fantastic teamwork and dedicated professionalism can suffice. In other endeavours, we still have not fully automated coffee, instead of a perfectly adequate beverage from a machine some prefer a human operator to operate the machine as if it was some rocket-surgery skill/craft. I don't think train operation is like that, a faux professionalism, maybe programming is nearer the mark, some programmers use a text editor which is ridiculous when they could use an IDE. Furthermore some programmers roll their own code rather than just re-use some existing module.

wang_li 9y ago

Systems to manage train speed already exist, it's just that operating companies have not deployed them fully. It's required by law that these systems be in place, but either they've requested waivers, or the law keeps being amended to accommodate their failure to deploy.