In this study, the authors examined attitudes of the Tyne & Wear (T&W) Metro drivers towards system design-related factors and their influence on the propagation of driver-related incidents. The system design features assessed include the position of running signals, visibility of different signal types, and platform location in relation to the travelling direction. The methodology based on data gathering through a self-administered questionnaire distributed among the drivers has been used. These data have been evaluated using multivariate analysis techniques against historic data on incidents to uncover potential relationships between drivers' perceptions and incident occurrence. The results show that the participants do not tend to consider system design factors as influential towards incident propagation. However, the analysis shows correlation between the driver responses and historical incident data such as corroboration of the increased incident propagation risks during the engineering works and the possessions.

Although it is accepted that system design affects train driver performance, the literature related to this phenomenonin 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.

This paper explores performance shaping factors associated with holistic design aspects of metro systems affecting driver's behaviour based on a case study using eye-tracking techniques. Train driving is a highly visual task where the physical environment provides key visual instructions. Eye-mind theories suggest that eye movements closely follow cognitive processes when it comes to interaction with the visual world. The data for this study have been collected in a representative urban rail system serving a metropolitan area with circa 1.2 million inhabitants during 20 in-service trials. Participating drivers were asked to wear an eye-tracker while driving a train as they would normally do. The study focuses on four areas of interest at four consecutive stations. The stations have similar characteristics but differ in terms of certain design elements which are mirrors, platforms, stopping position markers and positions of a running signal. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of these elements to metro drivers. The paper assesses the usability of the system design elements through analysis of gaze fixations. Results suggest the importance of the positions of a mirror and a signal in relation to the cab, as well as the distance between a stopping point and a signal. Such factors as openness of stations, passenger loadings and informativeness of certain elements also demonstrated influence on drivers' performance. It was also found that drivers sometimes do not check a signal before departing a station, which is a significant concern. The paper discusses factors potentially propagating such behaviour.

The performance of Tyne and Wear Metro system in the UK is measured on a headway basis, and gaps in service that are 4 min or more in excess of scheduled gaps are investigated and the cause documented. The metro system has a number of infrastructure constraints including single-line sections, junctions and level crossings, all of which have to be taken account of when constructing the timetable, in order to avoid trains being held by the signalling system, causing delays. The objective of this study is to analyse delays less than 4 min, which are not investigated or attributed to a cause, known as subthreshold delays. The purpose of the analysis is to identify regularly occurring issues which are due to the timetable, in order to recommend changes. Two different data sets were used. The first data set explored specific trains, areas and times of day where delays were highest. The second data set allowed us to drill down on each of those in greater detail by studying station departure times for each train. A number of options to resolve the issues identified during the analysis are proposed. Whilst the results are specific to the Tyne and Wear Metro system, the methodology is suitable for use by other urban rail transit systems. The study identified several areas of future work including resolving data recording issues, carrying out further investigation of trains at peak times in particular scenarios, and automating the analysis through the use of other software.