The fully automated system (FAS) refers toan integrated system of various control techniques to achieve automated operation of machinery, aircraft and railway trains with minimal human intervention(Rifkin, 1995).The automation isusually achieved by a combination of various means such as mechanical, electrical and electronic techniques. Due to its advantages in the saving of labour, energy and materials and improvements in the precision, accuracy and quality of the products and processes, the FAS has been widely applied in various industries throughout the world. For instance, fully automation ofthe telephone switching process in 1930s was estimated to release approximately 1 million employeesfor other positions(based on statistics of 1938). Another recent example is the automation inaviation. With an integrated advancedavionics system, modern aircrafts are almost completely automated during the travelling process. In virtue of this advance, pilots can stay relaxed (especially for night flights) and the safety is significantly improved as accidents due to careless operations of pilots are eliminated.
Similarly, FAS has been introduced to the rail transportation industry (known asthe automatic train operation). The automatic train operation (ATO) is an integrated system that can realize automatic operations of railway trains and enhance theiroperational safety. Also, other automatic systems carrying out signal operations such as route setting,time control and train regulation (traditionally by on-board staff) are used together with the ATO system.Nevertheless, at least one train operator is maintained in most systems to mitigate any potential accidentscaused bysystem failures or unexpected emergencies. As shown in Table 1, the automation of trains iscategorized into five levels (based ondefinitions by the International Association of Public Transport), known as the Grades of Automation (GoA)(Fischer, 2014).
Table 1. The Grades of Automation in rail transportation industry
Recently, attempts have been made by the British Railways topromote unattended operationfor mainline railway trains, as a part of FAS in rail transportation industry of UK. The unattended operation of mainline trains will bring both great opportunities and severe threats. In the following sections, the potential opportunities and threats resulting from this attempt are described, together with a discussion on possible solutions to the problems associated to minimize the threats.
