Tube strike misery for London

I agree with you, though why would automated trains be able to increase passenger volume?  Are you assuming, automated means more trains could run? 

Originally Posted by mrb

“I agree with you, though why would automated trains be able to increase passenger volume?  Are you assuming, automated means more trains could run?  ”

Based on the Paris system, this seems to be the case:

Here's an excerpt from the Engineering Director whose firm automated the Metro, and will be doing the Tube.

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT AUTOMATION ON EXISTING LINE

On Line 1 the system has reduced the minimum headway from 105 to 85 seconds, decreased the size of the required fleet from 52 to 49 trains while increasing individual train capacity from 680 to 720 passengers and capacity per-hour per-direction from 24,000 on the conventional line to 30,000 on the new automated service.

“The main objective was to improve traffic flow and increase the flexibility of the line to help absorb the traffic in busy stations by ensuring the line is operating at maximum capacity,” says Emmanuel Janand, Director of Systems and Mobility in RATP’s Department of Engineering. “Automation allows us to adapt our supply to the demands of the traveller in real-time.”

So automated trains can run more efficiently, adapt to congestion bottlenecks, run closer together if required, and carry more people. Plus you need fewer trains, sounds like a winner to me.

But in true British fashion we will no doubt debate it for another 10 years, watch the project costs double, pay too much for the trains, and then implement it half arsed o keep the unions happy, and have the trains manned, to counter the mythical public panic about driverless trains.

By the time it's rolled out, we'll all be cruising round in driver-less cars anyway

Traveling 13 miles home last night only took 2.5 hours, personally I'd sack the lot of them......

just wait ,by the time London has driver-less trains, technology will be so far advanced they too will be going on strike from time to time

I have been at the unfortunate end of the automated system in Paris though....We were travelling with my family and a friend's family and we all tried to get on. My mum was slower as is disabled and the doors started to shut, trapping a friend's leg...Luckily they pulled free but the train sped off leaving half the party on the platform. It was a nightmare trying to catch up with them as it was before mobile phones. I don't know if it would be different in London but there is literally no way to stop the doors shutting there, it's a little scary! At least with a driver there's someone to intercept, if they are looking. 

The strike must be a nightmare, although you might realise walking is far more pleasant, unless you have a LONG way to go and then it must be awful! It's okay as long as you can work from home I guess!

Was in London today right next to Oxford street and the roads were very clear except on the way out on the at some road works by the river,maybe cos it was school holidays