BART originally was planned to operate like people mover trains at airports. Station platforms would have doors that opened only when a train was there. Walls would have prevented passengers from falling onto tracks or people from committing suicide by jumping in front of trains.

Unfortunately the technology was not able to spot high speed trains accurately enough to use platform doors so jobs were created to have people on the trains to open and close doors at stations with open platforms. These jobs were called "operators." Trains actually were controlled by computers. The "operators" had a big red emergency stop switch and could move the train to the next station at a maximum of 25 mph when instructed by dispatchers in case of equipment failure.

Probably operating BART trains with no employees on board as originally planned was a bad idea. Since they were already on board the "operators" were given other tasks to do. But their primary job remains opening and closing train doors. BART unions of course emphasize how important an "operators" job is.

Whether an experienced operator could have prevented the recent accident is a question that the NTSB probably will answer. However "operators" have been known to doze or not be mentally alert between stations.

Responsibility for avoiding trains at BART always has been with the track workers. Red flags or other protection are not required. Dispatchers may route trains around work on occasion. BART management has resisted any addditional protection for track workers. However changes may result after NTSB issues its finding on the recent accident.