Consideration of human factors during the construction or modernization of a line

Summary IRSC London I- A Very Challenging Line to Operate A.Environmental Features B.Specific Installations 1. Bellegarde remote control centre 2. Catenary switching device 3. Catenary power supply feeder II- Providing Human Factors Support A.Lot 1 1.Bellegarde remote control centre 2.Catenary switching device B.Lot 2

IRSC London I- A Very Challenging Line to Operate BuiltClosed Renovated

IRSC London A- Environmental Features Several curves of radius below 300 m Risks of runaway Source: Dossier de sécurité - Rénovation de la ligne du Haut Bugey V3 du 10/11/2011– Annexe 02

IRSC London A- Environmental Features Difficult climatic conditions : -120 rainy days per year, -65 days of frost, -27 days of thunder, -heavy snow, -ice formation in tunnels Large rock walls along platforms Large number of detectors and protection nets from rock falls Risks of wheel-slip, wheel-lock, track shift. High risks of false alarms due to weather conditions

A- Environmental Features Numerous and imposing structures : -10 tunnels of different lengths, -49 railroad bridges, - 5 viaducts, Presence along the line of 42 level crossings located in : -high traffic areas, -tourist zones, -areas of difficult track geometry IRSC London

A- Environmental Features Central platforms including one : -located just at the end of a tunnel, -at a gradient of 22 -and of a curve of 300 m making access to TGVs difficult, Boarded track crossings High passenger number in winter Numerous tourists during summer Risk of unauthorized presence on tracks

B- Specific Installations 1. A remote control centre in Bellegarde station 2. A unique type on the French national railway network of catenary switching device from 1500 V dc to 25 kV ac linked to the route in Bellegarde station 3. A rare 25 kV ac catenary power supply feeder to be used in case of emergency If each of these features taken individually can be easily handled ; once gathered together they lead to real and important operation and maintenance risks including some which are linked to human factors. IRSC London

B- Specific Installations 1- Bellegarde Remote Control Centre Necessity to adapt to a new mode of rail traffic control and to a new technology

IRSC London B- Specific Installations 1- Bellegarde Remote Control Centre Source: translated from Dossier de sécurité - Rénovation de la ligne du Haut Bugey V3 du 10/11/2011– Annexe 29 An inadequate adaptation of staff to new technologies could lead to incorrect application of procedures in case of disruption, to immobilization of trains and to the presence of passengers on tracks.

IRSC London B- Specific Installations 2- Catenary Switching Device Linked to the route Remote controlled by Bellegarde remote control centre Voltage monitored by a programmable controller Condition the clearing of the controlled protecting signal Source: translated from Dossier de sécurité - Rénovation de la ligne du Haut Bugey V3 du 10/11/2011

IRSC London to Bourg en Bresse To Geneva Source: inspired from Area V ac Area V ac Area 1500 V dc Area 1500 V dc Switching area Switching area

IRSC London B- Specific Installations 2- Catenary Switching Device Control / command incidents at the remote control centre could lead to : command and control failures for the route to Haut Bugey prolonged immobilization of trains before station platforms passengers on tracks train running on sight and power trip stress for remote control centre staff Requires : training to the particular characteristics of the installation ability to work with many people from different disciplines and remote Communications dysfunctions in rail traffic control predominate in the majority of incidents.

Bellegarde TCSSR Verbaly ask the SSR if voltage indication corresponding to the established route is displayed on his terminal Verify voltage indication on his terminal Voltage indication is not displayed SSR to Bellegarde TC: voltage indication « TK …(1500 ou 25000) displayed on my terminal » Voltage indication is displayed Inform Bellegarde TC by numbered message After having verified all other conditions for clearing the signal, authorises the passing of the stop signal under the usual regulatory conditions. Receive numbered message from SSR Verbally inform Bellgarde traffic controller Receive verbal information from SSR After setting a route, the signal does not clear and the corresponding voltage indication (« KT 1500 » or « KT ») is not displayed Source: translated from Dossier de sécurité - Rénovation de la ligne du Haut Bugey – Annexe 29

B- Specific Installations 3- Catenary Power Supply Feeder To be used only in emergencies cases Of delicate use in case of accidents on the catenary intervention of maintenance staff Presents serious electrical hazards Requires the acquisition of essential job skills IRSC London

B- Specific Installations Operation of the renovated line is complicated train traffic controller in charge of the remote control center, operators, maintenance staff, central substation staff drivers... Risks of incidents derive from technical components organizational and human factors IRSC London IM decided to launch a dedicated study based on human factors

IRSC London II- Providing Human Factors Support Human factor study 6 months Human factors, operation, maintenance, electrical installations specialists Implementation stage

IRSC London Expected results Prepare local agents for technological change Develop tools for traffic management Establish process for dealing with degraded situations Estimate admissible staff workload II- Providing Human Factors Support

Lot 1 Control risks associated with the catenary switching device and catenary power supply feeder By working in collaboration with staff at the design stage To ensure that they had identified and understood all risks of dysfunctions and their corresponding procedures Control risks associated with the catenary switching device and catenary power supply feeder By working in collaboration with staff at the design stage To ensure that they had identified and understood all risks of dysfunctions and their corresponding procedures Lot 2 Assessing the robustness of Bellegarde remote control centres planned organization By identifying in literature and at similar sites, elements that could contribute to the reflection on the organization of Bellegarde remote control centre Assessing the robustness of Bellegarde remote control centres planned organization By identifying in literature and at similar sites, elements that could contribute to the reflection on the organization of Bellegarde remote control centre IRSC London II- Providing Human Factors Support

IRSC London A- Lot 1 1. Catenary Switching Device Issues

Actions Study behaviour of a single or multiple unit vehicle in case of accidental immobilisation under the catenary switching device Study how staff would deal with programmable controller malfunctions Study behaviour of a single or multiple unit vehicle in case of accidental immobilisation under the catenary switching device Study how staff would deal with programmable controller malfunctions Decisions Write a special operating procedure for the management of train distress scenarii under the catenary switching section, Include relevant data in driver training, Produce documents on the conditions of intervention on the catenary switching device for maintenance staff Incorporate simulation exercises in staff training Check the consistency of the documents Monitor the operation of the catenary switching device / care about feedbacks Write a special operating procedure for the management of train distress scenarii under the catenary switching section, Include relevant data in driver training, Produce documents on the conditions of intervention on the catenary switching device for maintenance staff Incorporate simulation exercises in staff training Check the consistency of the documents Monitor the operation of the catenary switching device / care about feedbacks IRSC London A- Lot 1 1. Catenary Switching Device

IRSC London A- Lot 1 2. Catenary Power Supply Feeder Issues

Actions Clarify the synchronisation of maintainers local interventions and the repowering of the feeder to rescue a train on the line Decisions Organizing knowledge sharing on the basis of catenary power supply feeder instructions Organizing exercises to test its use in conditions close to real operations. Organizing knowledge sharing on the basis of catenary power supply feeder instructions Organizing exercises to test its use in conditions close to real operations. IRSC London A- Lot 1 1. Catenary Switching Device

IRSC London Issues B- Lot 2 Assessing the robustness of Bellegarde remote control center planned organization

B- Lot 2 Assessing the robustness of Bellegarde remote control centre planned organization Attention particularly paid on : Operation of novel installations Clarity and readability of procedures, Documents accessibility Procedure consistency Remote control center ergonomics Alarm management, tools and installations maintenance Competency profile Training Management Workload Team composition IRSC London

Actions Identify in literature and in the field, elements that could contribute to the reflection on the organization of Bellegarde remote control centre. Decisions Adapt Bellegarde traffic controllers training to their specific situation, Organize meetings between train traffic controllers and players with whom they will have to work, Regularly ensure rotation between the old and the new control centre, Adapt the ergonomics of Bellegarde remote control centre. Adapt Bellegarde traffic controllers training to their specific situation, Organize meetings between train traffic controllers and players with whom they will have to work, Regularly ensure rotation between the old and the new control centre, Adapt the ergonomics of Bellegarde remote control centre. IRSC London B- Lot 2 Assessing the robustness of Bellegarde remote control centre planned organization

IRSC London Conclusion Necessity of taking into account human factors Increase of risks Complexity of railway sector Since 2010 no accident related to : -specific installations -new technologies -communications dysfunctions

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