Railways must embrace automation, but successful deployment of driverless vehicles depends on how well we can overcome technical challenges, suggests PAUL THOMAS, technical director, Rail Consultancy for Atkins

Driverless vehicles are going to play a big part in a cleaner, more efficient transport. For most people this means autonomous cars and trucks. However, driverless services also have the power to transform our railways. From greater flexibility in their timetables to more efficient use of energy, driverless operations can unlock improvements in our railways to help meet passenger expectations, improve capacity, increase connectivity, and reduce our carbon footprint.