Brooklyn commuters and a local councilman have expressed outrage after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) began test-running robo-trains on the L line.
The new technology called the Communications-Based Train Control is operated by a computer, but there is still a motor operator talking to the system, as well as a conductor on board.
The transit agency says the new system makes for smoother operation, eases overcrowding and offers better service.
However, Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) has criticized the MTA for using robo-trains, calling them dangerous and dysfunctional, and claiming that they have slowed down commuting time.
The MTA says the computerized system is the standard for the majority of modern rapid-transit systems around the world.