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# Floppy Disks: The Unlikely Conductors of San Francisco's Future Trains
- URL: https://www.thedigitalspeaker.com/floppy-disks-the-unlikely-conductors-of-san-franciscos-future-trains/
- Published: 2024-04-11T05:55:05.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-27T05:31:07.000Z
- Description: In a city where the future meets the past at every corner, San Francisco's transit system clings to a quaint relic of the tech yesteryears by still relying on 5.25-inch floppy disks to run their trains.
- Author: Dr Mark van Rijmenam, CSP
- Tags: News, #seo-post-1

In a city where the future meets the past at every corner, San Francisco's transit system clings to a quaint relic of the tech yesteryears by still relying on 5.25-inch floppy disks to run their trains.

Amidst the tech-savvy facade of San Francisco, a surprising revelation emerges: the city's Muni Metro light rail system is orchestrated by none other than the venerable 5.25-inch floppy disks, with plans to continue this quaint technological symphony until 2030.

Despite their antiquity, these floppy disks daily boot up the Automatic Train Control System, a critical player since 1998\. However, the SFMTA is on the brink of transformation, gearing up for a monumental tech transition that promises to modernize the system by incorporating advanced technologies like fiber optic or Wi-Fi.

This shift signifies an end to the floppy disk era and heralds a new chapter of efficiency and innovation in public [transportation](https://www.thedigitalspeaker.com/ai-transportation-speaker/). As San Francisco prepares to bid adieu to its dated digital companions, the city stands at a crossroads, balancing the charm of technological nostalgia against the imperative of progress. How will this transition redefine the pulse of a city renowned for its technological heartbeat?

Read the full article on [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/5-25-inch-floppy-disks-expected-to-help-run-san-francisco-trains-until-2030/?ref=thedigitalspeaker.com).

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