Are ICE3s Computer Controlled?

[gordonthemoron]

I know they are heavily dependent on computers, but until last Friday I didn't realise that they are largely driverless.

I sat immediately behind the driving compartment and the only times that the driver touched any controls was to start/stop the train and open the doors. He frequently wasn't even looking through the windscreen, spending his time talking on his mobile, buying a coffee from the trolley, propping his door open and chatting with colleagues.

Is this normal behaviour?

 

[notadriver]

I know they are heavily dependent on computers, but until last Friday I didn't realise that they are largely driverless.

I sat immediately behind the driving compartment and the only times that the driver touched any controls was to start/stop the train and open the doors. He frequently wasn't even looking through the windscreen, spending his time talking on his mobile, buying a coffee from the trolley, propping his door open and chatting with colleagues.

Is this normal behaviour?

They are not computer controlled (automatic train operation) but they do have in cab signalling and full automatic train protection.

Do you have a video of him chatting on his mobile, buying coffee etc?

 

[gordonthemoron]

unfortunately not

 

[WestCoast]

I have noticed this a little bit - on approach to Utrecht Centraal on a Nederlandse Spoorwegen ICE International the driver was chatting away to his colleague in the cab. But he didn't take his eyesight much away from the windscreen or leave the controls.

 

[Daimler]

Did the train at any point accelerate/decelerate without any input from him (excepting starting/stopping, as you said)?

 

[ChrisCooper]

A lot of modern trains, particularly high speed trains, can run with very little input from the driver. Even 90s and 91s are like that, the driver selects the desired speed, selects the tractive effort and the train will accelerate up to and maintain the set speed, no need to touch the controls. Who says train driving is hard

 

[gordonthemoron]

Did the train at any point accelerate/decelerate without any input from him (excepting starting/stopping, as you said)?

what ChrisCooper said

Actually, I was on a (new) DB DMU in 2009 when after the train set off from the station, two boys knocked on the cab door. The driver left the controls and let them in for a look around

 

[Daimler]

what ChrisCooper said

Actually, I was on a (new) DB DMU in 2009 when after the train set off from the station, two boys knocked on the cab door. The driver left the controls and let them in for a look around

What I meant was not so much that the train was able to maintain a set speed with no input from the driver, but that at changes in speed limit during the route, the train altered its speed without driver input - apologies if I'm being obtuse and this is what you meant!

 

[gordonthemoron]

it was

 

[Railjet]

I sat immediately behind the driving compartment and the only times that the driver touched any controls was to start/stop the train and open the doors. He frequently wasn't even looking through the windscreen, spending his time talking on his mobile, buying a coffee from the trolley, propping his door open and chatting with colleagues.

Is this normal behaviour?

Yes, from what I have seen.

What I meant was not so much that the train was able to maintain a set speed with no input from the driver, but that at changes in speed limit during the route, the train altered its speed without driver input - apologies if I'm being obtuse and this is what you meant!

The trains can accelerate/decelerate without input from the driver.

 

[notadriver]

How do they do that?

 

[gordonthemoron]

the driver pushes a lever to go and then does nothing else, the train speeds up to whatever speed by itself and then maintains it

 

[notadriver]

Ive just found out that the signalling system incorporates ATO

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linienzugbeeinflussung

 

[Metroland]

Most new High speed trains in Europe, Japan and China and the latest metro services are essentially automatic both in terms of signal and train operations. They still need human overview for emergencies and out of course working, but that's the way things going.

If you look at the websites of the main signalling/train providers (Siemens, Bombardier, Invensysrail etc), there are now options for all these things.

http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mob...ons/rail_automation/train_control_systems.htm

http://www.invensysrail.com/index.php/products/cbtc

http://www.bombardier.com/en/transp...ns/main-line-solutions?docID=0901260d8000a682

I believe some of the signalling contractors are testing signalling and control systems which also operate over the internet and with wifi.