If there is one mode of transportation that could be completely automated and autonomous, I would think trains would be it. What does a crew on a train do that could not be centrally automated? We're getting closer and closer with cars, and the variables of auto travel on roads is probably several orders of magnitude greater vs. rail travel.
Kurt
Computers can handle trains on flat, straight, dry rail. There's a lot more to it than you might think.
When to apply train brakes vs when to apply dynamic brakes, when to brake in general, when to apply power, when to apply sand.
There's a certain amount of "feel" to operating trains that computers won't and can't understand or apply.
So what happens is when you apply power too early is you snap a drawbar or pull a knuckle because of slack action.
If you apply brakes to late, you could set up a runaway.
You have a pull apart, on single track, the railroad is shut down until you fix it. A computer isn't going to be able to walk a knuckle back 50 cars and put it on, then put the train back together. If it snaps a drawbar, a computer isn't able to set out the car.
Like I said, there's a lot involved...