ABSTRACT
Train simulators have become an integral part of rail systems design, planning and driver training since the Ladbroke Grove accident in 1999. The subsequent inquiry into the accident criticised the limited use of simulators in the UK rail industry and recommended that further human factors research be carried out to develop the understanding of train driving (Cullen 2001). Research train simulators have been used to understand the nature of train driving and associated cognitive constructs such as workload, situation awareness and vigilance. They also allow for the design and evaluation of new rail automation and control technologies, as well as changes to the rail infrastructure, before these changes are implemented, thus aiding prediction of the potential impact they may have on train drivers.
