Expert knowledge elicitation to generate human factors guidance for future European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) train driving models

Abstract

The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) will have an impact on the train driving task and the behaviour of the train drivers. This paper presents a part of the final study of the series of studies that have been conducted as part of a three-year research project, which investigated the effects of ERTMS on the behaviour of the train drivers. In recent times, a number of models of train driving have been developed in order to inform the design of the train driving technology and understand the implications of the design of the train driving task on the performance of the drivers and their behaviour. An expert knowledge elicitation study was conducted to evaluate the existing train driving models and to generate a guidance on human factors for the future ERTMS train driving models. The study consisted of a workshop, which was conducted using the rail human factor experts who have been directly involved with the projects examining ERTMS. The current train driving models were evaluated and ideas were generated as to how these should be shaped in the future to include systems such as ERTMS. The findings of the study contributed to bridging the gap between the theoretical understanding of the cognitive strategies of the train drivers and the practical implementation of novel technologies by the rail industry.