Moscoe Wants To See Computer-Driven TTC Trains
Posted November 17, 2006 12:00 pm.
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At a cost of $750 million to outfit the whole underground system with the computer technology needed, Moscoe called it a bargain in a published report.
That’s roughly the same cost as building three kilometres of subway track with three stations.
The TTC chair figures such a plan would also increase ridership because it would allow some trains to run all night long. Currently the service stops between 1am and 2am, depending on the station.
“This is the equivalent of digging another Yonge Street subway without having to put a shovel in the ground. It will increase our capacity by about 40 percent,” Moscoe said.
The computer system, once installed, would alert trains how far they are from other trains, and when to speed up and slow down.
The 24-hour plan would see trains moving in opposite directions on the same track. In order to avoid each other they’d employ ‘cross-over’ tracks. A side benefit would mean that maintenance workers could spend a longer amount of time working on the track not in use.
Other cities that use similar technology include Paris, Singapore, New York and Tokyo.
Bob Kinnear, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 doesn’t like the idea and he doesn’t think the public will either.
“We believe the public wants an operator at the front of that train just in case that train needs to be stopped,” he said.
The Scarborough Rapid Transit line currently uses it, although sometimes drivers still operate the vehicles.
“We have an operator that’s got to be in there at all times, and probably somewhere in the area of 25 percent they are operating it manually because of computer glitches,” Kinnear said.
According to Moscoe bringing in automated control is currently part of the transit commission’s spending plans, but he wants to make it a higher priority. He also says no jobs will be lost.
The commission’s next meeting is December 13.
