The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has announced plans to modernise the train control system for the city’s Muni Metro network.
This project will see the service’s current automatic train control system (ATCS) replaced with a modern communications-based train control (CBTC) system to help deliver faster, more reliable services.
At present, the Muni Metro’s ATCS system runs on technology dating back to the 1980s and is thus prone to equipment failures that result in delays.
To modernise the network, CBTC signalling will maintain constant communication with all trains in the rail network, including those in the subway and on the street. This will help prioritise signals and will allow drivers to know when a signal is coming well in advance.
These capabilities will also keep trains evenly spaced to prevent bunching and gaps for more consistent wait times and travel times.
In addition, the new technology will automatically push software updates to keep the system current, without relying on floppy disks.
Once operational, CBTC is expected to reduce Metro delays by 20-25 percent, while allowing SFMTA to run more trains on the network. Customers will thus no longer regularly find themselves stuck on trains between stations due to subway congestion.
This project is now in the planning phase and will be rolled out with a phased approach across the network, with full completion scheduled for 2029.
