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How close are we to unmanned mainline freights?

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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by rdganthracite VSMITH The system does not have to be as complicated as you state. What works well and is being used now is a computer on board the locomotive (or transit car), which they already have. Along the ROW is small radio transmitters that tell the train what the speed limit is for the upcoming section. That information, along with the track signals gives the computer everything it needs to operate safely in the next stretch of track. The computers are set up so that if a signal is not received from a transmitter in a certain period of time then the train is stopped and must be restarted by a person. [/quote] This all sounds terrific, and since I made my prior comments above I have read the TRAINS article on remotes. Nothing said in that article or your comment overrides my years of railroading which tells me just how often things go wrong on the railroad often with spectacular consequences. Let me point out a few problems with your analysis which I believe to be a gross oversimplification of the difficulties one would run across in rolling out an unmanned system to a real railroad. This does not mean there might not be certain specific instances where unmanned trains could work (QNS&L an isolated railroad using unit trains is one example, transit may well be another). This isn't simply an engineering problem of "can we do it", but a much more complex problem involving multiple disciplines. Problems with unmanned operation: 1. Grade Crossings Because of potential liability concerns and the danger to the public, FRA has expressed its displeasure with even the operation of manned RCL trains outside designated RCL limits in yards. Although Indiana RR has some items in place on their RR to permit operation over public grade crossings, FRA has not officially sanctioned this procedure. This would likely mean a requirement of complete grade separation or closing of existing grade crossings. The funding challenges of this alone will be a killer except in very isolated locations or on new construction such as the Alameda Corridor. 2. Trespassers Similar to grade crossings, trespasser fatalities are real and funding the resources such as fences and additional railroad police and maintenance employees to ensure reasonable compliance is significant and not in the existing railroad budgets. he expenditures and even maintenance of all this new infrastructure would be prohibitive. 3. Power Failures The recent Blackout of much of the northeast and midwest demonstrates the susceptibility of railroads to electrical power loss, even those not powered directly by electricity. Signal systems will need to be maintained and all the individual transmitters, even those in very isolated areas will need to have sufficient power and fail safe power. Unlike signal failure in a manned environment, the onboard computers will not be able to do anything other than stop in the event of a signal failure. A simple lightning storm could back up the railroad for days as the signal system (or PTC/GPS if available) would have little choice but to halt all other movements until the trouble could be cleared. A single lightning strike can travel rails for many miles causing all sorts of signal havoc. Certainly, one would expect the new systems would be subject to at least some such problems, no matter how well designed. 4. Computer Failures The recent successful virus attack of many computers including those at CSX substantially shut down much of their system. In the event of this sort of problem in an automated environment, one must question what would happen to computerized trains. Could control of individual trains or entire lines be compromised?!? Even if control is not jepoardized, the fail safe would likely be to shut down huge portions of the rail system until it could be sanitized. 5. Labor Issues What will the need for labor be? Will RCL manned units be used in yards? Hard to picture any kind of change there, perhaps some yard operations could be tower controlled as some hump engines are today. How will the employees be represented and what qualifications will be necessary? Will the need for additional maintenence employees spawn new crafts or result in merger of existing crafts, for example signalmen and MOW becoming one craft as signals give way to remote systems. I'm sure if I think about it I can come up with at least five more big issues and many smaller ones. I still think I'll be long retired by the time I need to worry about it... LC
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