Engineering: Automation

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Communications diagram, 1969 WMATA control center, 1975 Farecard machine, 2000 Ride Guide, 2000
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Though Metro’s engineers were fairly cautious when it came to new technology, they were confident that advances in electronics would allow them to automate much of the system, minimizing labor costs and increasing efficiency. Though trains are operated by people, in theory they can be completely controlled from a central control room. Fare collection, once a labor-intensive job, is handled by automatic faregates that read magnetic cards. Most recently, WMATA has relieved some of the pressure on its telephone operators by setting up a website with automated directions.