New York Computerizes its Subway System

Iphtashu Fitz writes "New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority launched it's first fully computer controlled subway line this month. The `L' Line of the MTA that connects the southern part of Manhattan with Brooklyn was picked for this pilot program because of its relatively short length and the fact that it doesn't share tracks with any other lines. Trains on this line no longer have conductors on board, and only a single driver in the front to monitor all the systems. What's the big deal, you may ask? After all, cities like San Francisco and Paris already have computerized subway lines. Well, having recently celebrated its 100th anniversary the MTA is one of the oldest subway systems in the United States, and one of the largest in the world. If all goes well, the MTA will continue to expand automated service to the rest of the subway system over the next 20 years. But just how safe and secure will these new automated lines be? The radio links that provide data communication between the trains and the control center are encrypted, but how long until a hacker manages to crack it?"

How long until its cracked?

[duffahtolla]

They probably already have.

Hmm

[pHatidic]

The radio links that provide data communication between the trains and the control center are encrypted, but how long until a hacker manages to crack it?

Only if DVD-Jon has an MTA-Bob counterpart

Oh no

[ravenspear]

The `L' Line of the MTA

Man, that just brought back horrific memories of sendmail M4 syntax.

Do you wish to stop?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes No Cancel

Re:Cracker schmackers

[ackthpt]

actually, the bombs were dropped during the II World War, that is 1945. it will mark the 60th anniversarie.

D'oh! Brain fart! Good thing I'm not a coder on the NYC Subway!

now to get back to my robotics for performing open heart surgery..

Safe and Secure?

[Anonymous Coward]

Did I just read those two words in a story about the new York subway system?

Drivers and other crack-heads

[EmbeddedJanitor]

Even with failsafes, there seems no end to the way humanss can bypass the system. Deadman's switches can be taped down etc.

I heard of an incident, I think in London, where there were two safeguards in the driver's cab: the deadman's switch had to be held and the door had to be shut. Pretty soon, the drivers figured to tape up the switch and open/shut the door as a control mechanism. This was fine until a driver stepped out of the cab at a station and let the door slide shut. Train goes off with no driver!

Re:Railroaded

[Doc Ruby]

As a native New Yorker, I'm torn. I cherish the veteran's advantage of mastering the routing strategy and split-second decisions whether to jump for transfers, or blow off an express. But the prospect of thousands of commuters getting out of the way, on their own initiative guided by "live maps" in the stations makes me grin. Someday, maybe after we get those flying cars they used to draw in NYC comics...

Hopefully, AOL won't have a hand in the software.

[Anonymous Coward]

"You've Got Rail" every 100 feet would be kind of annoying.

Re:Drivers and other crack-heads

[Jeffrey Baker]

This happened with a train I was riding on the SF Muni. The train is supposed to leave after the computerized control system clears the train out of the station, and after the driver hits the door close button, and after the doors actually close. Well, this train was malfunctioning (thanks, Breda!) and the door wouldn't close. But the train had been cleared and the driver had hit the door close switch. So the driver gets out of the cab, walks out the door onto the platform, and dislodges the door, which closes. The train takes off and he's still on the platform. Comedy, I tell you.

Re:Do you wish to stop?

[Anonymous Coward]

or if it were Microsoft:

Do you wish not to stop?
Yes No Cancel

Re:Power Grid Setup

[Anonymous Coward]

Trains don't exactly stop on a dime.

But they flatten them real good.

Re:Actually

[roseblood]

Conductors allow for the passage of power from a generation station to the trains that utilize said power to move the trains.

Computerized : )

[Scrameustache]

Does that make it the information supersubway?

Re:Potential problems

[GISGEOLOGYGEEK]

Yes, and he bought your foolhardy story, hook, line, and sinker. How else would you define ignorance? perhaps YOU need a dictionary.

Re:Hmm

[strider44]

"Hey bob - how come you always arrive at exactly the same time as the train?"

Re:I've already hacked it.

[software_trainer]

Thanks! On the F train, this will be quite an improvement!