According to Metro de Quito news, the Metro de Quito now uses the automatic train operation (ATO) system during commercial service on weekends and holidays. The change follows several test runs carried out before the system was put into use.
How the system works
The ATO mode automates acceleration, speed regulation and braking. A train operator remains in the driver's cab throughout each trip.
During journeys, the operator monitors how the train runs, handles the opening and closing of doors, gives information to passengers and stays in constant contact with the Central Control Post. The system adjusts speed according to the timetable for each section and controls braking and stopping at stations.
Expected benefits for passengers
Metro de Quito general manager Juan Carlos Parra said the automatic operation improves travel comfort for users. According to him, smoother acceleration and braking also help reduce energy consumption and wear on railway assets, and support more regular travel times between stations.
"La operación automática es eficiente porque permite reducir el consumo de energía así como el desgaste de activos ferroviarios."
The publisher also cites railway research indicating that ATO can improve operating time efficiency by approximately 8%. This figure is presented as the result of that research, not as a measured result on the Quito network.
Testing and next steps
Before the launch, Metro de Quito carried out several tests to verify how the subsystems work. These included night sessions outside service hours, with 17 trains on the track.
According to Metro de Quito, ATO mode currently runs on weekends and holidays. The next stage planned is to extend it to the full commercial operating schedule. The source does not give a date for this extension.