Is the driver´s traditional outside view still necessary to ensure situation awareness in high speed/ automated train operation?

Abstract

When considering the introduction of high speeds (up to 400 kilometres per hour), ECTS level 3 control and protection mechanisms and automatic train operation (ATO) functionality to long distance passenger train operation, general questions concerning the role of the train driver are central. More specifically, the attentional focus of the driver will be required to remain on the displays in the cabin. Reasons for this change of attentional focus include the fact that the driver´s ability to clearly perceive the track ahead may decrease due to speed and that the yet perceived outside information will become less relevant as an indicator for future behaviour, because of the sluggish reaction of the train to driver input. Additionally, ETCS in cabin signalling and ATO functionality redirect the drivers attentional resources towards the monitoring of Information provided within the cabin rather than outside. Based on a task analysis that determined the allocation of task between train driver and technical ATO components, we plan to investigate the main research question whether minimized outside view and ATO functionality interfere with the train driver`s situation awareness and driving performance. Therefore a high fidelity simulator study is set out within the facilities of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR e.V.). There we are working on collecting subjective, objective, and physiological measures from train drivers (n= approx. 30) in an two and a half hours lasting experimental setting, to assess the effects of minimized outside view and ATO functionality on the driver´s situation awareness, performance, fatigue and workload. Measures will include SPAM, gaze-pattern analysis through eye tracking, pupillometry, NASA-TLX, and Stanford Sleepiness Scale. Results will be provided as soon as they are available.