Although it is accepted that system design affects train driver performance, the literature related to this phenomenon – in relation to urban railways and metro systems in particular – is scarce. Metro systems differ significantly from mainline railways, being closed systems, with shorter headways, a greater number of stations and more signals encountered. This paper aims to investigate the effects of design-related performance shaping factors on metro driver performance, by analysing historical incident records for the 2011–2013 period on the Tyne & Wear (T&W) Metro (UK). Bivariate statistical analysis has been used, to assess the potential inter-dependency of the performance shaping factors and other common causal factors, for various driver-related incident types. In addition to category A signals passed at danger incidents, station overruns, and incidents associated with station procedures have also been assessed. The results show the significant importance of the location (design) based performance shaping factors in incident propagation mechanisms in the Metro. The two years under investigation display increased consistency between driver-related incidents and locations, rather than time of day, or season. In addition, the highest correlation between incidents has been found in terms of locations. Deviations from a standardised T&W Metro station design were found to associate with either an increase or decrease in incident rates, depending on whether additional complexity or simplicity was introduced. Although the features of metro systems suggest improved route knowledge and system familiarity among drivers, the results show that this can actually lead to an unsatisfactory safety-related performance during non-routine operations, e.g. engineering works, or driving in sidings.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    The influence of system design-related factors on the safety performance of metro drivers




    Publication date :

    2017




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :

    Classification :

    BKL:    55.30 Schienenfahrzeugtechnik, Eisenbahntechnik
    Local classification TIB:    275/7030



    The influence of system design-related factors on the safety performance of metro drivers

    Rjabovs, Aleksandrs / Palacin, Roberto | SAGE Publications | 2017


    Design of Real-Time Monitoring System for Physiological Status of Metro Train Drivers

    Gao, Ting / Zhu, Hai-Yan / Liu, Zhi-Gang et al. | ASCE | 2019


    Intelligent metro safety sensing system

    FANG YUANBING / ZHENG JUNJIE / TANG FUSHENG | European Patent Office | 2015

    Free access

    Metro Operation Safety Evaluation

    Wei, L.Y. / Lv, Y.B. / Ren, Y. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2014


    Substance use and social, health and safety-related factors among fatally injured drivers

    Karjalainen, Karoliina / Blencowe, Tom / Lillsunde, Pirjo | Elsevier | 2011