Editing Véhicule Automatique Léger (section)

=== Original VAL ===
[[File:NeiHuLine Point.jpg|thumb|VAL-style track point as used on the [[Wenhu line|Taipei Wenhu Line]].]]
The VAL system uses a fully automated elevated [[guideway]], which may be metal or concrete depending on prevailing weather conditions. Primary suspension is by rubber tires, with pairs of horizontal tires to provide lateral guidance. Electrical power at 750 V DC is collected by shoes from the guidebars.<ref>Bushell, Chris, ed. Jane's Urban Transport Systems 1995-96. Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group; 1995. p472-3</ref>

The vehicles are lightweight 2-car sets ([[VAL 206]] or [[VAL 208]]) with 124 total capacity, or twin sets ([[Taipei Metro VAL256|VAL 256]]) with 80 seated and 160 standing capacity. All axles on these vehicles are motored with {{Cvt|150|kW|4=0}} electrical motors. The system detects the location of trains on the guideway by the use of ultrasonic sensors.<ref>Bushell, Chris, ed. Jane's Urban Transport Systems 1995-96. Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group; 1995. p472-3</ref> VAL uses fixed-block signalling.

VAL can cope with unanticipated demand by inserting additional trains into the network as required by remote command from the control center. The control center computer system automatically speeds up or slows down trains in order to maintain a timetable. The VAL system can handle headways as small as 60 seconds, and the Lille VAL system rapidly proved itself with a 99.8% availability.<ref>Bushell, Chris, ed. Jane's Urban Transport Systems 1995-96. Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group; 1995. p472-3</ref>

In contrast to another early driverless metro system, the [[Vancouver, British Columbia|Vancouver]] [[SkyTrain (Vancouver)|SkyTrain]], the VAL design uses platforms that are separated from the rollways by a glass partition, to prevent waiting passengers from straying or falling onto the rollways. [[Platform screen doors]] – produced by [[Switzerland|Swiss]] glass door manufacturer [[dormakaba|Kaba Gilgen AG]] – are embedded in these partitions and open in synchrony with the train doors when a train stops at the platform.{{Citation needed|reason=Articles to support the claim|date=November 2023}} The original platform-edge doors were manufactured and installed by PLC Peters in [[Hayes, Middlesex]] and were used on the first line.{{Citation needed|reason=Unable to find articles that prove the claim the original platform doors were made by PLC Peters, nor was able to find any information on the company 'PLC Peters'|date=November 2023}}

In addition to the trains being driverless, the station platforms are unstaffed in normal operation. In the original [[Lille metro]] system, they are monitored by a large closed-circuit television system with 330 cameras and 24 television monitors in a remote control room.<ref>Bushell, Chris, ed. Jane's Urban Transport Systems 1995-96. Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group; 1995. p178</ref>