San Francisco's $212 Million Leap Towards Floppy-Disk-Free Mass Transit Technology

Friday, 25 October 2024, 10:30

Ars Technica highlights San Francisco's commitment to enhance public transportation with a $212 million investment plan. This initiative aims to replace obsolete storage technology in the Muni Metro's Automatic Train Control System. The modernization plans follow years of reliance on outdated floppy disks, aiming to streamline data storage and enhance operational efficiency in mass transit by 2028.
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San Francisco's $212 Million Leap Towards Floppy-Disk-Free Mass Transit Technology

San Francisco's Vision for Modern Mass Transit

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) board has agreed to spend $212 million to transition its Muni Metro light rail system away from floppy disks. The current Automatic Train Control System (ATCS), operational since 1998, relies on three 5¼-inch floppy disks for loading crucial DOS software, which controls train operations.

Significance of Upgrading

  • The contract approved on October 15 involves Hitachi Rail, a technology used in train systems across more than 50 countries.
  • Julie Kirschbaum, Muni director, states the new system is five generations ahead of current technology.

The expectation was set to complete the transition by 2028. However, Covid-19 has pushed completion dates back, affecting many planned updates.

Current Challenges of the Muni Metro

  1. Replacing outdated loop cables that transmit data is a priority;
  2. Transitioning to a system using Wi-Fi and cellular technologies for improved data tracking;
  3. Ensuring a 2033/2034 completion for the entire overhaul, pending further approvals.

The move to modernize comes amidst a wider issue of organizations lagging in abandoning floppy disks, seen recently in Japan and even within military systems in Germany.


This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.


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