Comment by davidcbc

I think it is true that systems with very frequent headings tend to be driverless though. However, the technology for a driverless train has been around for a long time.

Driver pay comprises about 60% of the cost of owning and operating a public transit bus.

Yes, and in addition a drivers job isn't just to drive the vehicle, but to make the right call in a million different emergency situations, help people e.g. with a lack of mobility, etc.

One could argue the business-as-usual-driving is actually the easy part to automate.