Story perspectives

Unions and safety experts push back on driverless subways

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 4:12 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

US officials push driverless

U.S. officials are advancing fully driverless subway projects in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
Washington Metro plans computer-controlled Red Line under a $1 billion upgrade approved in April.
Los Angeles is reviewing an automated underground line through the Santa Monica Mountains as part of the Sepulveda Project.
Unions and safety experts cite the 2009 Fort Totten crash as reason to delay further automation.

Summary

Chalmers researchers optimize fleets

Chalmers researchers built an optimisation framework that merges Bayesian neural forecasts with transparent models for autonomous electric taxi fleets.
The method was validated with San Francisco and Chicago trip data, producing fleet plans rapidly.
Researchers compared three electric-vehicle types with different battery sizes and efficiencies, showing the framework adapts to fleet designs.
Authors stress that uncertainty modelling makes fleet decisions robust under extreme-weather conditions.

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US officials push driverless

U.S. officials are advancing fully driverless subway projects in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
Washington Metro plans computer-controlled Red Line under a $1 billion upgrade approved in April.
Los Angeles is reviewing an automated underground line through the Santa Monica Mountains as part of the Sepulveda Project.
Unions and safety experts cite the 2009 Fort Totten crash as reason to delay further automation.

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