Abstract :
The traffic congestion in and around Tokyo has become intensified year after year, and the subway has come to be looked upon as the most effective way of eliminating it, or alleviating it to an appreciable extent at least. The Teito Rapid Transit Authority (TRTA) in Japan has had an automatic train control (ATC) system in operation for many years to ensure safety adequately while fully exploiting its service efficiency. In the face of ever-increasing population and transport demand, the Authority in its quest for higher efficiency and safety in train operation pioneered in developing an automatic train operation (ATO) system and has been testing it on the Hibiya Line since 1962. Under the ATO, all train functions-notch-in, power running, coasting, braking, and stopping--are performed automatically. The motorman simply presses a pushbutton to start the train, which then runs on safely under ATC and stops smoothly, accurately, and automatically at the next station. We are satisfied with the results of tests in regard to the durability, reliability, and accuracy of the system as well as in regard to riding quality. The Authority is convinced that by putting this new system into operation the ATO can carry on passenger service at a shorter headway, with greater safety and accuracy, and can expand traffic capacity to some extent. Further study is now under way to improve the system by combining a centralized traffic control system and an inductive radio system, in order to exercise group control over all the trains on the track.
