Tyne and Wear Metro—A Modern Rapid Transit System

Howard, D F

doi:10.1243/pime_proc_1976_190_017_02

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…This is the second largest urban rail system in the UK and the only one powered by an overhead DC 1500 V supply network. Further details on the T&W network can be found in [9][10][11][12]. The in-field eye-tracking experiment was designed as a naturalistic driving study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation into Effects of System Design on Metro Drivers’ Safety-Related Performance: An Eye-Tracking Study

Rjabovs

Palacín

2019

Urban Rail Transit

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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.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation into Effects of System Design on Metro Drivers’ Safety-Related Performance: An Eye-Tracking Study

Rjabovs

Palacín

2019

Urban Rail Transit

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“…It was opened progressively from 1980, with some sections converted from former main line routes and some new alignments [14][15][16]. The network was subsequently extended to Newcastle International Airport in 1991 and to South Hylton in 2002 [17].…”

Section: Case Study: the Tyne And Wear Metromentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Benefits and Obstacles of Implementing Driverless Train Operation on the Tyne and Wear Metro: A Simulation Exercise

et al. 2016

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Metro systems around the world have many differences in their design and operation, one aspect of which is the level of automation. The most advanced technology available allows for unattended train operation with no staff on-board, which can bring a number of benefits. As a result, this is becoming increasingly common for new-build metro systems (such as the Dubai Metro), as well as for upgrades of traditional driver-led systems (such as Paris Métro Line 1). This paper uses the Tyne and Wear Metro as a case study to highlight the potential benefits and obstacles of implementing driverless trains on an existing metro system. This investigation has two parts: a review of the challenges of implementing increasing levels of automation for the existing Metro infrastructure and a simulation exercise to compare automatic train operation with manual driving on the core section of the Metro network. The results of the simulation exercise show that significant increases in the capacity of the Tyne and Wear Metro system are possible when automatic train operation is implemented in conjunction with resignalling. However, low adhesion conditions represent a significant risk to achieving this capacity increase reliably, and additional measures to mitigate low adhesion conditions would be required. The study also discusses the infrastructure upgrades required to convert an existing system to unattended train operation. The most significant obstacle for the Metro is that it mostly runs at ground level, with some sections shared with main line services. The costs associated with securing the tracks and ensuring compatibility with main line trains mean that the Metro is not a particularly promising application for driverless train operation at this time. Nonetheless, the issues discussed in the paper are very much relevant for other metro systems, and the methodology of this study is easily transferrable.

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“…Another design aspect that tends to change from station to station, is the point at which passengers enter onto the platform. More information on the T&W Metro can be found in (29)(30)(31).…”

Section: Proc Imeche Part F: J Rail and Rapid Transitmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Rjabovs

Palacín

2016

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F:

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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.

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Tyne and Wear Metro—A Modern Rapid Transit System

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Investigation into Effects of System Design on Metro Drivers’ Safety-Related Performance: An Eye-Tracking Study

Investigation into Effects of System Design on Metro Drivers’ Safety-Related Performance: An Eye-Tracking Study

Potential Benefits and Obstacles of Implementing Driverless Train Operation on the Tyne and Wear Metro: A Simulation Exercise

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

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