Ed Crowley wrote:
"Cast_Iron" wrote in message
...
Ed Crowley wrote:
Computers are better at driving trains than humans. Also,
having a member of staff on every platform has to be
cheaper than staff on some platforms plus a driver on
every
train. Why couldn't the platform staff be trained to
fix/drive trains in an emergency? It would make their
jobs
more interesting and varied to boot ...

Technically, you may be correct. However there is one
fundamental point invariably overlooked by proponents of
such courses of action. "People like people", i.e.
passengers like to know there is someone on hand to deal
with a situation as it arises. IIRC when the Victoria Line
was being planned and built the tyechnology would have
allowed driverless trains. The system you propose is
feasible on the DLR. It is the human factor that keeps a
member of staff actually on the train.

IMO it's better to have visible staff on every platform
than locked away at the front of the train.

Most people prefer both. Given the option I expect most people would also
prefer to have someone on the back of the train as well. Unfortunately the
people who actually run the Underground have had to play the part of a
football. Hopefully that role will now be in the past (but I'm not holding
my breath).