Unmanned

Transit

Driverless trains, automated guideways, and other unmanned transit.

An MPL 85 train on Lyon Metro Line D at Valmy station.

Lyon Metro Line D Was the World's First Large-Profile Driverless Line

Did you know the world's first large-profile driverless metro opened in France with full-size rubber-tyred trains and no platform screen doors?

Harper Quinn, Live desk · Oct. 2, 2026

A VAG Class DT3 automatic train at Nuremberg Flughafen U-Bahn station.

Nuremberg's U2 Became the First Metro Line Converted to Driverless Operation

Did you know a German city took an ordinary crewed subway line that had carried passengers with drivers since 1984 and turned the whole route into a fully automatic, driverless metro without shutting service for the rebuild?

Sam Okonkwo, Robotaxi · Oct. 1, 2026

Station Chevilly-Larue on Paris Metro Line 14, with platform screen doors.

Paris Metro Line 14 Has Run Without a Driver Since 1998

Did you know the French capital opened a brand-new metro line on 15 October 1998 with fully automated, driverless trains from the first passenger trip, complete with platform screen doors at every station?

Harper Quinn, Live desk · Sept. 30, 2026

Vestamager Station on Copenhagen Metro line M1.

Empty Cab Since Day One: Copenhagen Metro Has Run Driverless Since 2002

Did you know Denmark's capital opened a fully automated metro on 19 October 2002 with nobody in the driver's cab, and that those trains have run at Grade of Automation 4 ever since?

Sam Okonkwo, Robotaxi · Sept. 29, 2026

The view from the front of a Docklands Light Railway train.

Front Seat View Since 1987: London's DLR Has Run Without a Driver

Did you know London's Docklands Light Railway has carried passengers without a driver in the cab since it opened in 1987, with a seat at the front for anyone who wants the view?

Harper Quinn, Live desk · Sept. 28, 2026

A Dubai Metro train on an elevated guideway with downtown towers behind it.

Empty Cab in the Gulf: Dubai Metro Has Run Driverless Since 2009

Did you know Dubai opened a fully driverless metro at 9 minutes and 9 seconds past 9 pm on 9 September 2009, with nobody in a driver's seat from day one?

Sam Okonkwo, Robotaxi · Sept. 27, 2026

A TransLink SkyTrain on an elevated guideway.

No Driver in the Cab: Vancouver's SkyTrain Has Run Driverless Since 1985

Did you know Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain has carried passengers without a driver in the cab since December 11, 1985, when the Expo Line opened as a showcase for Expo 86?

Harper Quinn, Live desk · Sept. 25, 2026

A Masdar City personal rapid transit pod displayed behind glass.

Empty Cab in the Desert: Masdar City Opened the World's First Public PRT in 2010

Did you know the world's first personal rapid transit system open to the general public started carrying passengers in Masdar City on November 28, 2010, months before Heathrow's airport pods welcomed the public?

Sam Okonkwo, Robotaxi · Sept. 24, 2026

A purple and silver Heathrow ULTra pod at a Terminal 5 platform.

Empty Cab at the Gate: Heathrow Pods Have Run Driverless Since 2011

Did you know Heathrow Terminal 5 has been moving Business Car Park passengers in small, battery-electric pods with nobody at a wheel since April 2011?

Harper Quinn, Live desk · Sept. 23, 2026

A Lille Metro VAL 208 rubber-tired automated train on the elevated guideway.

Empty Cab in Europe: Lille's VAL Metro Has Run Driverless Since 1983

Did you know Europe's first fully automated metro opened in northern France in 1983, with rubber-tired trains and nobody in a driver's seat?

Sam Okonkwo, Robotaxi · Sept. 21, 2026

A yellow and blue West Virginia University Personal Rapid Transit vehicle on the Morgantown guideway.

Empty Cab on Campus: Morgantown's PRT Has Run Driverless Since 1975

Did you know West Virginia University has been running driverless campus shuttles since 1975, years before the first public robotaxi and before Google even existed?

Harper Quinn, Live desk · Sept. 20, 2026