Two US Cities Weigh Running Trains Without a Human at the Controls

Almost every mass transit system in the United States still requires a driver or operator on board, even as automated vehicles such as robotaxis become more common. Two major cities are now seeking to change that by allowing trains to run without a human at the controls. Officials in Washington, D.C., recently advanced a plan that could let computers fully control trains. The second city is not identified in the available reporting, and details such as a timeline, vote or safety review were not provided. Transit systems are weighing whether to proceed.

Right-leaning coverage, represented by the Washington Times, frames the story as a question in its headline, asking about trains without humans at the controls and saying some systems are weighing their options. Its available text opens with the point that nearly all transit still needs an onboard operator and that two major cities want to change that; the portion available does not name Washington, D.C. Left-leaning outlets tracked by Crosswire had not reported this story at the time of writing, while alternative/independent and right-leaning outlets had. Those covering it focus on the policy question of whether to remove onboard operators. The AP, in the alternative category, uses nearly identical opening wording but adds that D.C. officials recently advanced a plan that could let computers fully control trains. Neither excerpt quotes named officials, riders or labor groups, or gives safety data, costs or dates. Because no left-leaning coverage exists yet, a left-versus-right comparison is not possible.