ABSTRACT
Train driving cab simulators have been recognised as an important component of train driver training (Keon, 1991; Kappler, 1993) and this was emphasised in the UK at the Ladbroke Grove Inquiry (Cullen, 2001). Subsequently, many UK train operators have adopted simulator training as part of their competency management systems and the Rail Safety and Standards Board has developed guidance on this topic (RSSB, 2005). Within the wider context of railway operations simulators have been used for research and human factors design assessments in the context of signaller train control or train dispatch (Lenior, 1993; Nichols and Crawford, 2002; and Malsch et al., 2004). Young (2003) identified the importance of train driving cab simulators to human factors research related to train drivers. However, while published examples do exist of the use of train cab simulators for research (Roach et al., 2001; Hamilton et al., 2004) they are relatively rare, particularly in the context of the assessment of design changes to train cab interfaces. This study describes an experiment which captured train driver performance data when driving a train driving cab simulator (Halliday and Gibson, 2005). Driver performance was compared for three different interface designs for the diagnosis of non-driver initiated brake demands, particularly those related to the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS).
