San Francisco has become synonymous with the technologies changing our world today, including AI and self-driving cars, many of which are created and tested in the city. However, in an ironic twist, the city tasked with crafting the future still relies on decades-old technology to move people around.
In detail. Every morning, operators of the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) must load train control software using 5.25-inch floppy disks, a format that went out of use decades ago.
This system, installed in 1998, controls the movement of light rail trains through the Market Street Tunnel, a major urban route with seven stations spread over nearly three miles. While the vehicles function as streetcars on the surface, they operate as subways underground.
According to its official website:
“At night while no trains are running, staff reboot the ATCS computers and load the software from a set of floppy disks. Early in the morning, an out-of-service ‘sweep train’ moves through the subway to ensure the trackway is clear and there are no disruptions to the ATCS components that communicate with the trains.”
Context. Using large floppy disks isn’t an outdated whim: the Automatic Train Control System (ATCS) depends on this technology by design. Replacing it requires a substantial investment, especially in a society that doesn’t prioritize public transportation as much as others.
The software on these disks, which have just over 1 MB of storage, controls key functions such as train spacing and appropriate speeds.
Now what? The ATCS’ days are numbered. The San Francisco City Council approved a contract with Hitachi Rail to implement a new system based on modern technology. The updated system will use Wi-Fi and cellular data to track train locations.
The upgrade will cost $212 million and is part of a larger $700 million project to overhaul Muni Metro’s control system. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Muni director Julie Kirschbaum said the Hitachi system is “five generations ahead” of the current one.
What’s next? If all goes according to plan, San Francisco will abandon floppy disks and embrace the digital age around 2027, although the migration will take a few more years to complete.
Moreover, the new contract includes 20 years of technical support to ensure the city doesn't have to use outdated technology again.
Image | Daniel Seßler (Unsplash)
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