What debate? The poster to whom I replied typed 2234. I think 2034 is nearer to the mark and that is nothing worth debating about. Does anyone here really believe that trains will not be fully automatedly controlled within 100 years? OK, perhaps 30 years hence may be ambitious (?) but as some trains are already so controlled, (all right, just shuttles and the like), surely this sees the writing on the wall?
In 100 yrs time, who knows what will be the case, I almost certainly won't be alive. In my career I will probably see ETCS Level 2 spread across the network and maybe even a bit of Level 3 although I doubt that.