Mind the Gap – Human Factors and the Platform Train Interface Paul Leach, Kate Moncrieff, Helen Costello & Gladys Udeh RSSB and Network Rail

Mind the Gap – Human Factors and the Platform Train Interface

Paul Leach, Kate Moncrieff, Helen Costello & Gladys Udeh

RSSB and Network Rail

5th International Rail Human Factors Conference 14th Sept 2015

Road map

• Scope

• Rationale

• Challenges

• Research programme

• Findings

• PTI strategy

• Next steps


Scope


Rationale

• High profile incidents

• Need for capacity, accessibility and performance

• Passenger exposure to risk

• Increase in harm since 2007


Rationale

Source: SRM v8.1

PTI risk due to boarding/alighting6.67 FWI per yearPublic: <0.01 FWI per year

Passenger: 6.67 FWI per year

PTI risk not due to boarding/alighting6.09 FWI per yearPublic: 0.62 FWI per year

Passenger: 5.48 FWI per year


Challenges

• Significant variations in station, platform and train design

• Passenger attitudes and behaviours

• Differing dispatch methods and staffing requirements for platforms

• Maintaining access for mixed traffic operations

• EU Interoperability Directive, TSIs and the RGS


Research programme• PTI Special topic report and SMIS narrative analysis

• Operations, Engineering and Human Factors workshops

• Human Factors literature review

• Additional post incident reporting

• Additional research and data analysis


Findings - prioritised behaviours and factors

• Accidental slips, trips and falls

• Rushing

• Too near the edge

• Lack of awareness

• Crowding

• Intoxication

• Encumbered travel

• Sensory impairment

• Technology use


Other contributory factors

Infrastructure Operational Rolling stock

Platform (slippery, uneven, obstructions)

Service issues (delays, frequency, cancellations, staff error, inaccurate customer info)

Hustle alarmsExits

Height and width of the gap between platform and train

Maintenance on the platform

Train fittings and on board space

Wayfinding and signage Presence of staff and dwell time

Footsteps and plates


Prioritised mitigations• Raising awareness of PTI risks and facilitating behavioural change,

through education, communication and staff interactions

• Providing staff with the skills, time, and equipment to better engage with passengers and support reductions in PTI

• Enhancing management of intoxicated passengers, for example, greater collaboration with the British Transport Police and changes to relevant policies

• Demarcating the position of platform markings

• Improving the provision, location and content of information for customer service


Prioritised mitigations (cont…)• Improving platform management, for example, removing pinch points

• Supporting and empowering vulnerable passengers or those requiring assistance

• Rolling stock design to support vulnerable passengers or those requiring assistance

• Optimising infrastructure and design of the physical environment

• Enhancements to train dispatch and utilisation of technologies to support the safe arrival, departure and dispatch of trains

• Provision of standardised train stop markings, for example colour coding

• Provision of adequate and flexible dwell times and increased capacity


Strategic workstreams

Data intelligence and gathering

Passenger movement

Train stopping positions, dispatch

Accessibility

Engineering

Performance


PTI strategy objectives

• Reflect the wide range of safety, performance and engineering issues surrounding the PTI

• Account for both the short term and long term needs of the industry

• Define the research, where appropriate, needed to develop and deliver the strategy

• Obtain industry buy-in for the implementation of the strategy


Expected Benefits

Reduction in slips / trips / falls

Reduction in falls from platform

Reduction in delays

Reduced cost of incidents and delays

Improved customer satisfaction

Increased customer confidence

Better manage increases in traffic


Successes (so far…)

• Cross industry strategy

• Technical report and action plan

• National Campaign

• Area on web-based rail industry resource centre for RSSB members dedicated to sharing good practice


Next steps

• PTI Risk Assessment Tool

• Staff communication on PTI risks

• Refresh of the national campaign

• RSSB research projects, for example step/gap; Driver Only Operation monitors; signage; luggage and non technical skills


Questions………………

Documents

Mind the Gap – Human Factors and the Platform Train Interface Paul Leach, Kate Moncrieff, Helen Costello & Gladys Udeh RSSB and Network Rail