Research short
Recent findings lay out possible changes to drivers’ route knowledge requirements when operating under European Train Control System.
Jasmin CollierEditorial Content Manager, RSSB
The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a form of speed-based signalling. It sends important information straight to the driver’s cab and removes the need for conventional lineside signalling infrastructure. In particular, ETCS calculates and supervises the maximum speed for each train. This keeps it running at a safe distance from the service ahead of it.
Shifting to ETCS in GB will remove the need for the current colour-light signalling system. It will also mean that drivers’ existing route knowledge requirements will likely change.
To understand how required route knowledge may change, research project T1319 explored the needs for:
drivers operating under ETCS in both normal and degraded conditions
drivers transitioning between areas of ETCS and conventional signalling.
The research looked at the South section of the East Coast Main Line (ECML), which is currently being upgraded to ETCS. Following a review of the existing route knowledge requirements laid out in the industry standard, and how ETCS is known to operate, the team identified some possible areas of change:
Some current requirements may become redundant.
Some requirements can be relaxed because the information will instead be provided to the driver by the system.
Some new requirements will be introduced as a result of ETCS.
Most of RIS-3702-TOM ‘Management of Route Knowledge’ will remain relevant. However, drivers may not need to commit all line speed information to their long-term memory. This is because ETCS tells drivers about necessary speed adjustments via the driver-machine interface (DMI) in the cab. Instead, drivers will probably only need to know where the line speed is below that where continuous supervision is provided by the system. This change may help maximise the system capabilities and reduce the reliance on drivers’ long-term memory as a control measure.
Also, drivers operating under ETCS may need to become more knowledgeable about the systems available in their cab and hone their ability to think ‘on their feet’. Although ETCS may remove the need to memorise certain route information, drivers will need to interpret and react to the data that ETCS provides to their DMI while moving. This means that workload management and situational awareness will both be key non-technical skills for drivers operating under these circumstances.
The next steps are to see if the route knowledge requirements for the ECML will be applicable to other routes upgraded to ETCS. Our hope is that this research project helps prepare drivers and driver managers for the gradual shift to ETCS, which itself will provide an important element of standardisation across our network.
To read the research on ‘Defining the route knowledge requirements for operating under ETCS’ (T1319) in full, head to our Research Catalogue.
View page
Group or committee of the month
RSSB board member interview
