In recent years the federal government has pursued a policy of reducing its operating assistance to transit agencies. This policy has resulted in ever-increasing pressure on heavy-rail rapid-transit systems to develop more cost-effective operating procedures. One approach to improving cost-effectiveness is to reduce the rapid-transit train crew to a single operator. Although such reductions have takenplace on a number of european systems, and all new u.s. Systems have incorporated one-person operation, older u.s. Systems continue to use two-person operation of multiple-unit trains. Battelle columbus division in conjunction with the national cooperative transit research and development program, recently conducted a study of one-personoperation of multiple-unit trains for improving the cost-effectiveness of heavy-rail rapid-transit systems. On the basis of the study findings, it is judged that while there are many problems to be resolved, conversion of many of the six older u.s. Rapid-transit systems with two-person operation of multiple-unit trains to one-person operation is technically feasible. Such conversion will generally followan evolutionary process. That is, rather than systemwide conversionof all services and lines at one time, systems will most likely convert those services or lines that are most compatible to one-person operation first, followed by conversion of less compatible services or lines over time. The most compatible services include new lines, lines or servces with new or rehabilitated cars or facilities, and off-peak service. this paper appeared in transportation research record no. 1152, rail rapid transit and planning tools. For covering abstract see irrd no 818412.
Abstract