In a move that marks the end of an era, San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has agreed to pay Hitachi Rail $212 million to modernize its light rail system and bid farewell to the 5.25-inch floppy disks that have been a part of its operations for over two decades.
The SFMTA's Automatic Train Control System (ATCS), implemented in 1998, has been relying on these outdated storage devices to manage train operations in the subway. This system, which allows trains to run automatically while operators supervise, has been in use for 26 years – surpassing its expected lifespan of 20 to 25 years.
SFMTA director Jeffrey Tumlin highlighted the urgency of this upgrade, warning of a potential "catastrophic failure" due to the increasing risk of data degradation on these aging disks.
The $212 million agreement with Hitachi Rail is part of a larger $700 million overhaul of the city's transportation infrastructure. This comprehensive upgrade will not only replace the floppy disks but also address other pressing issues, such as the outdated loop cable system used for data transmission between servers and trains.
According to SFMTA spokesperson Michael Roccaforte, the current loop cables are fragile and have less bandwidth than an old AOL dial-up modem, making their replacement even more critical than phasing out the floppy disks.
The ambitious project timeline aims to have Hitachi replace the loop cables by 2028 with a modern communication system utilizing Wi-Fi and cellular signals for train tracking. The replacement of cables, floppy disks, and other aging technology is expected to occur in 2027 or 2028, followed by an on-street technology installation phase.
San Francisco commuters can look forward to a fully modernized light rail system, with the entire overhaul estimated to be completed between 2033 and 2034. This significant investment in updating the city's transportation infrastructure promises to enhance reliability, efficiency, and safety for millions of passengers in the coming years.
As San Francisco bids adieu to these relics of the past, it embraces a future where its light rail service will operate on cutting-edge technology, ensuring smoother and more dependable journeys for its residents and visitors alike.