San Francisco Muni approves $212 million technology to replace floppy disks

San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco transportation officials moved a step closer this past week to modernizing the train control system that runs the Muni Metro system, eventually ridding it of a system that uses outdated technology and runs on floppy disks.

The Municipal Transportation Agency board on Tuesday approved a $212 million contract with Hitachi Rail for an up-to-date train control system that will replace the existing system, which was installed in the Market Street subway in 1998.

The contract is part of a $700 million project to transform the Muni Metro’s control system.

The software that runs the system is stored on floppy disks that are loaded each morning and an outdated type of communication using wire loops that are easily disrupted. It was expected to last for 20 to 25 years, according to Muni officials. It moves data more slowly than a wireless modem, they said.

LINK (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/muni-board-approves-new-train-control-system-19846976.php

Gee, the system sucked in 1998. Kind of funny and sad at the same time. The Hitachi OS is said to be five generations ahead of the floppies, according to article.