Line 1 is even more interesting as it was converted from manually driven operation to fully automated operation without without major interruption to passenger traffic. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_M%C3%A9tro_Line_1)

And it was considered successful enough that they've started work on converting Line 4. After line 14 was put in service in 1998, RATP actually started drafting plans to convert lines 1, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 13.

The Skytrain in Vancouver does not have human conductors either.

Although I would assume there are conductors in a control centre somewhere?

There are no conductors, there's a control room with system overview and links to metros, stations and service personnel.

See http://www.ansaldo-sts.com/sites/ansaldosts/files/brochures/... page 21.

Interestingly enough, all transit staff are trained to be conductors in cases when the automated system doesn't work. It recently snowed which incorrectly triggered the "something is on the track" sensors causing the entire system to stop. They just took all the people normally doing other tasks and made them manually drive the trains for a day until the snow melted.

I didn't know that, that's pretty damn awesome and excellent foresight.