The driving party-lines behind both of London's Mayoral electoral candidates this year have included a focus on improving London's ageing underground system. Olympic fever has seen many banks and trading floors encourage their workforces to operate from home during the summer months, fearing congested scenes of commuter carnage. Ambitious changes to the Tube are, of course, far too late for this summer's Games, but the event has done a great deal to highlight the importance of upgrading existing systems to enable it to cope better with booming urban populations. Many in the transport industry believe the rejuvenation of the Tube lies in the technology of automation. As a result, driverless trains, platform screen doors and fully automated systems now top the procurement lists of transport planners across the world. However, London's DLR line was met with a mixed reception following its early performance in the 1980s, and last year London Mayor Boris Johnson's bullish plans to replace London's Tube train drivers with automated systems was met with a frosty reception from the press.