ALEXANDRIA, VA-On Friday, May 23, riders of the Metro’s Yellow and Green lines saw a new permanent addition to their daily commute: Automatic Train Operation, or ATO.
Under ATO, Metro trains automatically accelerate and decelerate using signals and commands from track equipment as a guide, leading to “a smoother ride, enhanced safety, and improved on-time performance” according to a WMATA press release.
Although most train operations will be automated, human operators will still be in the driver’s cab, albeit with much fewer duties. They will now only be in charge of opening and closing doors, looking out for track defects and managing passenger safety onboard and on-station…