Metro de Santiago relocates its driverless train simulator to bring it closer to drivers

It may initially seem to be a contradiction that metro operators with driverless trains should require a simulator to train their drivers. However, it is in driverless trains where capacitation using a simulator becomes even more important. In this scenario, drivers do not drive trains on a daily basis, and so they must make up for this lack of real practice with continuous use of the simulator. Training fully prepares them to identify and immediately address any incidents or breakdowns that may arise with automatic train operations.

Of the Santiago Metro's six lines, the two most cutting-edge routes (L3 and L6) are automated, using the CBTC control and signalling system (Communications Based Train Control) at its highest Grade of Automation-GoA 4, enabling UTO operation (Unattended Train Operation) with driverless trains.

In 2016 Lander installed a simulator for the GoA 4 driverless trains on lines L3 and L6 at the Cerrillos yard outside the city of Santiago. However, since that period during which training was provided on a continuous basis, they have found that locating the simulator at the yard meant drivers spent a large amount of their time travelling to the training venue. So it was that, with technical assistance by Lander, Metro de Santiago completed relocation of the simulator in a new technology room in June this year.

The new location is at Ñuñoa station, common to Lines L3 and L6, and also the location of the Operation Control Centre known as the CCO. This constitutes a genuine milestone for Metro de Santiago as its first integrated simulator on an operational line, which will have a considerable impact on the capacitation of its 120 UTO drivers.

Metro de Santiago also intends to take a further step in terms of an efficiency drive, and aims to involve CCO staff in using the simulator to give them an insight into the trains and the incidents faced by drivers. In so doing, they hope to secure better coordination between both parties to the operation, and provide an even better service for the people of Santiago de Chile.