Automatic train operation

Automatic train operation (ATO) is an operational safety enhancement device used to help automate the operation of trains. The degree of automation is indicated by the Grade of Automation (GoA), up to GoA level 4 (where the train is automatically controlled without any staff on board). ATO is primarily used on automated guideway transit and rapid transit systems where it is easier to ensure the safety of humans. On most systems, there is a driver present to mitigate risks associated with failures or emergencies.

For other uses of "ATO", see ATO (disambiguation).
Panel of MTR SP1950 EMU, capable of running ATO

Many modern systems are linked with automatic train control (ATC) and, in many cases, automatic train protection (ATP) where normal signaller operations such as route setting and train regulation are carried out by the system. The ATO and ATC/ATP systems will work together to maintain a train within a defined tolerance of its timetable. The combined system will marginally adjust operating parameters such as the ratio of power to coast when moving and station dwell time in order to adhere to a defined timetable.

Types of train automation

A diagram representing the different levels of automation possible on railways

According to the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), there are five Grades of Automation (GoA) of trains:[1][2][3]

Grade of
automation		Train operationDescription
GoA 0On-sightNo automation
GoA 1ManualA train driver controls starting and stopping, operation of doors and handling of emergencies or sudden diversions.
GoA 2Semi-automatic (STO)Starting and stopping are automated, but a driver operates the doors, drives the train if needed and handles emergencies. Many ATO systems are GoA 2.
GoA 3Driverless (DTO)Starting and stopping are automated, but a train attendant operates the doors and drives the train in case of emergencies.
GoA 4Unattended train operation (UTO)Starting and stopping, operation of doors are all fully automated without any on-train staff. It is recommended that stations have platform screen doors installed.

Additional types
Grade of
automation		Description
GoA1+In addition to GoA1, there is connected on-board train energy optimisation (C-DAS) over ETCS[4]
GoA2+In case of Amsterdam Metro, a GoA2 is able to reverse in GoA4 at the final stations.[5] This is indicated by '+'.
GoA3+An umbrella term for GoA3 and GoA4 meaning replacement of human train driver[6]

Operation of ATO

Whereas ATP is the safety system that ensures a safe spacing between trains and provides sufficient warning as to when to stop, ATO is the "non-safety" part of train operation related to station stops and starts, and indicates the stopping position for the train once the ATP has confirmed that the line is clear.

The train approaches the station under clear signals, so it can do a normal run-in. When it reaches the first beacon – originally a looped cable, now usually a fixed transponder – a station brake command is received by the train. The on-board computer calculates the braking curve to enable it to stop at the correct point, and as the train runs in towards the platform, the curve is updated a number of times (which varies from system to system) to ensure accuracy.[7]

When the train has stopped, it verifies that its brakes are applied and checks that it has stopped within the door-enabling loops. These loops verify the position of the train relative to the platform and which side the doors should open. Once all this is complete, the ATO will open the doors. After a set time, predetermined or varied by the control centre as required, the ATO will close the doors and automatically restart the train if the door closed proving circuit is complete. Some systems have platform screen doors as well. ATO will also provide a signal for these to open once it has completed the on-board checking procedure. Although described here as an ATO function, door enabling at stations is often incorporated as part of the ATP equipment because it is regarded as a "vital" system and requires the same safety validation processes as ATP.[7]

Once door operation is completed, ATO will accelerate the train to its cruising speed, allow it to coast to the next station brake command beacon and then brake into the next station, assuming no intervention by the ATP system.[7]

Notable examples

Urban passenger railways
The two white ATO start buttons beside the power/brake lever in a Tokyo Metro 10000 series train, corresponding to GoA 2 operation

Freight railways
  • The Rio Tinto Group "AutoHaul" system on its iron ore railways in the Pilbara.[18] This system is GoA 4 capable, able to run trains without a single person aboard for the entire trip out to the mines and back to the port. In October 2017 the first fully autonomous test took place over a 100 kilometres (62 mi) section.[19] The group was granted accreditation by Australia's Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator, approving the autonomous operation of iron ore trains in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.[20]
  • The Iron Ore Company of Canada uses nine automated GMD SW1200MG electric locomotives. This railroad is GoA4 capable, able to run trains without a single person aboard for the entire trip out to a processing plant and back to the mine in Labrador City.
  • The Navajo Mine Railroad uses four remote-controlled GE E60 electric locomotives. This railroad is GoA2 capable, able to run a train without any person on board for the entire trip out to the Four Corners Generating Station and back to the mines.

Mainline operation
  • The Czech railways have used GoA2 operation since 1991. Currently, about 400 vehicles are equipped with on-board units. 1500 km of lines (of total 9000 km network) are equipped with lineside part of ATO, next 1500 km are covered by data for GPS localisation.
  • In the United Kingdom, the Thameslink core section through Central London between St Pancras and Blackfriars became the first ATO route on the National Rail network in 2018. This has since been extended south from Blackfriars to London Bridge.[21]

High speed rails
  • German ICE high-speed lines equipped with the Linienzugbeeinflussung (LZB) signalling system support a form of GoA 2 ATO operation called AFB (Automatische Fahr- und Bremssteuerung, lit. automatic driving and braking control) which enables the driver to let the on-board train computer drive the train on autopilot, automatically driving at the maximum speed currently allowed by LZB signalling. In this mode, the driver only monitors the train and watches for unexpected obstacles on the tracks. On lines equipped with only PZB/Indusi, AFB acts entirely as a speed cruise control, driving according to the speed set by the driver with manual braking if needed.[22]
  • CR400BF-C 'Fuxing Hao', a variant of CR400 Fuxing series, running on Beijing–Zhangjiakou intercity railway is said to be the world first high-speed rail service capable of driverless automation in commercial operations. The specific Grade of Automation (GoA) was not announced.[23][24]
  • In November 2021, JR East demonstrated autonomously operated bullet train E7 in Niigata prefecture; 5 km between Niigata Station and Niigata Shikansen Stock Yard. They started testing on 29 October.[25]
  • In April 2022, also JR West announced that they will test ATO on a 12-car W7 series Shinkansen train used on the Hokuriku Shinkansen at the Hakusan General Rolling Stock Yard during 2022.[26]

Future

In October 2021, the pilot project of the "world's first automated, driverless train" is launched in the city of Hamburg, Germany. The conventional, standard-track, non-metro train technology could, according to reports, theoretically be implemented for rail transport worldwide and is also substantially more energy efficient.[27][28]

ATO will be introduced on the London Underground's Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines by 2022. ATO will be used on parts of Crossrail once the route opens. Trains on the central London section of Thameslink were the first to use ATO on the UK mainline railway network[29] with ETCS Level 2.

The U-Bahn in Vienna will be equipped with ATO in 2023 on the new U5 line.

All lines being built for the new Sydney Metro will feature driverless operation without any staff in attendance.

Since 2012, the Toronto subway has been undergoing signal upgrades in order to use ATO and ATC over the next decade.[30] Work has been completed on sections Yonge–University line.[31] The underground portion of Line 5 Eglinton will be equipped with ATC and ATO in 2022. The underground portion will use a GoA2 system while the Eglinton Maintenance and Storage Facility will use a GoA4 system and travel driverless around the yard.[32] The Ontario Line is proposed have a GoA4 driverless system and will open in 2030.[33]

ATO is in everyday operation on Czech Railways lines with AVV since 1991, and in test operation with ETCS since 2008.

Since March 2021, SNCF and Hauts-de-France region have begun an experimentation with a French Regio 2N Class, equipped with sensors and software(fr).

See also

References
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  2. Elisabeth Fischer (23 August 2011). "Justifying automation". Railway-Technology.com.
  3. "IEC 62290-1:2014 - IEC-Normen - VDE VERLAG". www.vde-verlag.de. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  4. European Union Agency for Railways (2017). "X2Rail–1 ATO over ETCS (up to GoA4)" (PDF).
  5. Wim, Korf; Piet, Grinwis; Theo, Podt (2010). "Anticiperen op waardevol vervoer" (PDF) (in Dutch). Rapportage audit Noord/Zuidlijn.
  6. Tagiew, Rustam; Buder, Thomas; Hofmann, Kai; Klotz, Christian; Tilly, Roman (2 July 2021). "Towards Nucleation of GoA3+ Approval Process". 2021 5th High Performance Computing and Cluster Technologies Conference. Association for Computing Machinery: 41–47. doi:10.1145/3497737.3497742. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
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  8. Robert, Jean (1983). Notre métro (in French). p. 152.
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  10. www.railway-technology.com Tren Urbano Rapid Transit System, Puerto Rico - Accessed 2011-07-12
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  12. New York City Transit - History and Chronology Archived October 19, 2002, at the Wayback Machine.
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  17. Rajput, Abhinav (April 28, 2016). "South Delhi-Noida direct Metro connectivity by August". HT Media Limited. Hindustan Times. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  18. "Rio Tinto has confirmed that it is on track to completely transition to driverless trains across its entire Pilbara operation by the end of 2018". iseekplant.com.au. July 20, 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  19. "Rio Tinto operates first fully-autonomous test train". Railway Gazette. October 2, 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  20. Ltd, DVV Media International. "Rio Tinto's automated trains approved". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
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  22. Der ICE – ein Produkt des Systemverbundes Bahn. In: Deutsche Bahn AG: (http://www.db.de/site/shared/de/dateianhaenge/publikationen__broschueren/bahntech/bahntech200601.pdf) bahntech, Nr. 1/06], S. 24 f.
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  25. "JR East shows off autonomous bullet train to media". The Japan Times. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  26. "JR West to test ATO on W7 series Shinkansen". International Railway Journal. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
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  28. "Germany: Hamburg gets first fully automated tram | DW | 11.10.2021". Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com). Retrieved 15 November 2021.
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  30. Wheeler, Charles (2008-12-17). "Yonge Subway Extension – Recommended Concept/Project Issues" (PDF). TTC.
  31. "Rail News - TTC extends signal system to Queen Station. For Railroad Career Professionals". Progressive Railroading. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  32. "How will the Eglinton Crosstown LRT's automatic train control work? We break down every major element in an infographic". Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  33. "Ontario Line will be driven by proven tech rather than futuristic prototypes". Retrieved 4 June 2020.
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