Metro & Suburban Rail: Automation and digitalisation

Automated metros first emerged more than 50 years ago when the Victoria Line opened using attended ATO in the late 1960s. Since then, new-build metro projects have increasingly standardised on automation, often enabling driverless operation in the process. But migrating existing lines to leverage the benefits of automation has proved much more challenging, in both the urban and main line sectors. We are only now seeing the first examples of automating suburban routes, led by the Thameslink corridor in London using ETCS over ATO, the EOLE project in Paris and København’s S-Bane resignalling programme.

 In our latest interactive live debate, our panel of specialists will explore the potential benefits of rail automation, how emerging technology can ease the process, and set out the challenges which are still hindering progress internationally. 


November 23, 2023 9:00 - 10:00 GMT