Under the plans the Northern Line will be fully automated by 2014, and the Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith and City lines by 2018. Docklands Light Rail (DLR) is London's only driverless service at present. Automated trains already operate on the Victoria, Central and Jubilee lines, but they do so with drivers.
Johnson made the statements in an interview with The Evening Standard, which marked the start of his re-election campaign, and placed the issue of driverless trains and transport reform at the heart of his battle with former mayor and Labour Party candidate, Mr Ken Livingstone.
London has witnessed 23 underground strikes during the four years that Johnson has been in office, and the incumbent mayor says that by automating LU lines he can take away the unions' ability to bring the capital to a grinding halt.
Under his plans, Johnson envisions drivers being replaced by "train captains" who already operate on the DLR and are responsible for passenger safety.
Transport for London is set to begin another fleet renewal programme shortly, and following the mayor's comments, London City Hall stressed that it is "very unlikely" that LU "will ever again buy a fleet of passenger trains with conventional driver cabs."
