Auto-reverse as a concept and in actual practice, is very good IMO. It's simply a case of acknowledging a DMI indicator, moving the master controller to off and removing your key; then let the train do it's thing. You have to be in the leading cab during the initial move but if you're late, you will start moving backwards towards Paddington if a MA is issued, 30 seconds after keying off. You'll be halfway down the train at best. Good news is, the saloon doors won't open if you arrive at PAD before you get to the other cab and until you've put your key back in. Bad news is, if you need to stop the train in an emergency, you've got to make your way to the nearest cab in order to engage the EB.
However and AFAIK, there are still safety concerns at present to even think about extending it outside of the WBP turn backs. I know my union has discussed AR for the Plumstead shunt moves to Abbey Wood but outside of that, nothing else. There are scenarios where unplanned AR moves in the tunnels themselves exist (AKA Zorro moves - from east to westbound and vice versa) and although we have done these in dynamic testing, I'm not aware they've been signed-off either.
