Automatic Train Protection for the Railway Network - Term Paper Example

Hybrid Technology (Name) (University) Executive summary The aim of this report is to shed more light on the Automatic Train Protection systems, how they function, their effects and relevance to engineers. Contributions to towards the safety of transport systems have been made specifically to the railway system. This report has taken the approach of objectivity rather than being subjective. The increasing number of accidents as a result of using railway transport have been on the increase hence the need to develop a system that would help decrease the number of preventable cases given that the ATP system cannot fully cover all the possible accidents. In failing to observe signals or speed restrictions, fatalities may occur hence the need to install these systems. The impact that this system has socially, economically and environmentally cannot be ignored. How it is going to affect the passengers in terms of their security as well as decongesting other transport systems. The extent to which it is relevant to engineers shall also be looked into, the challenges encountered as well as the recommendations. Contents Executive summary 2 1.0 Background 4 2.0 Social Impact Assessment 6 3.0 Economic Impact Assessment 6 4.0 Environmental Impact Assessment 6 5.0 Ethical Issues 6 6.0 How to Address the Ethical Issues 7 7.0 Relevance to Engineers 8 8.0 Challenges Faced and Recommendations 9 9.0 Competencies developed 9 10. Conclusion 9 References 10 1.0 Background Automatic train protection as a system is aimed at installing a protection system to protect drivers who may fail to observe signals or speed restrictions thence preventing collisions. By using a speed indicator, they warn drivers who are likely to speed and if they ignore, the system is designed in such a way that it applies the brakes after taking account of both the position and speed of the train relative to the movement. It however does not prevent all accidents but aimed at reducing the number of accidents that occur. It has an encoded track circuit or radio that permits the system speed and location information when the train driver is unable to stop. The system was first implemented in the early 1990s by the British after the Clapham Junction rail crash that took place in 1988. An automated system is believed to be having a higher level of safety compared to the manual systems which are basically controlled. The the ATP systems are said to be 70% effective in preventing accidents (Davies, 2000). With automated systems, they have a consistency and repeatability function unmatchable by man which makes them more effective and efficient. Incorporation of technology is known to be better in performing functions than humans because of the precision, work rapidly, are consistent and provide uniform results. All drivers are to be assessed before any data collection using a variety of criteria on their capability of operating the train in a manner that is consistent with normal driving operations and using the ATP (Hely, et al, 2015). Problems are however encountered when a driver fails to detect changes in the automated system or does not fully understand how it works (Norman, 1990; Young & Stanton, 2007). The reasons for implementing this system are; Cost-effective- although the system is quite costly, the benefits outweigh the costs incurred as it prevents accidents therefore saving lives which is the most valuable thing. In the long run it is more cost effective than the manual systems. The installation may be expensive but the benefits ripped from them are immense since it makes the passengers feel more secure when they are using the train and may be willing to pray an extra coin for the service as it gives them back a value for their money. Easy to install- the ATP is an advanced train protection system that can be quickly and easily installed without altering the driving rules as it does not require any cables or devices. Components are simply mounted in the track area where they derive their power from the existing signals. The process does not require a long procedure of altering or dismantling the train which could incur other additional costs. The below picture shows components of the ATP that are installed. East to monitor- using its computerized system which has an innovative and quite unique design that offers track-to-train data transmission to enable control, it is easy to keep track of the activities happening ensuring a high level of safety. The automation of the system also ensures that the train can be promptly monitored and any sign of danger can be easily detected and responded to in time. 2.0 Social Impact Assessment Ease congestion- due to the safety issue handled with the installation of the ATP, more people are likely to make use of the trains as they feel that their safety is guaranteed easing congestion in the other means of public transportation like buses. More train users- as the train is bound to be more efficient, quicker and safer, the train industry is more likely to experience a surplus in passengers given that they want to feel safer whenever they are travelling. Security is a sensitive issue and passengers tend to lie more on the safer side hence the development of the ATP is bound to attract more passengers. 3.0 Economic Impact Assessment Cheaper services- with the ever changing technology and new upcoming innovations every now and then, the train services are set to become more affordable to the common citizen making it cheap to travel by train. Since it is quite easy to install the ATP system, with time, the cost of installation will be covered and passengers will be made to pay an amount affordable at the same time getting value for their money in the service offered. Expansion globally- thanks to globalization, the ATP services are to spread all over the world and be made available in most countries which gives room to even better development of the system with the interaction and sharing of ideas among people. 4.0 Environmental Impact Assessment Preservation of the environment- unlike most systems that emit harmful gases to the air polluting it, the installation of the ATP system makes use of a renewable source of energy therefore prevents the pollution of the environment. 5.0 Ethical Issues ATP design- the safety of the design used in ATP cannot be determined. In general, they point out to possible safety hazards as a system may fail since it is automated making it hard for some passengers to fully be on board and accept the technology. Loss of jobs- with new technology comes with reduction in workforce. This is because fewer personnel are required in the train crew since most of the activities will be performed by the machines. Passenger security- with the reduction in train personnel due to automation, passenger security is put to risk as they are now more vulnerable to theft, assaults and other criminal acts. Ride quality- the smoothness and comfort with which the passengers perceive in a given ride can be measured using various variables such as the acceleration and deceleration characteristics of the vehicle, braking system and propulsion among other things. This will influence their decision of their preferred mode whether manual or automated. Level of service- the ATP train may not always travel effectively at given speed limits hence the need to hire skilled and trained drivers able to handle such situations. Maintenance- Maintaining transit equipment is not easy given the unfavorable number of factors surrounding it. From extreme weather conditions, heavy daily use and the hassle of meeting the demands of all train schedules, there is immense pressure to restore the equipment when services fail. How fast the issue is responded to and the effectiveness of performing the repair action will play a crucial role in determining the reliability of the transit system. 6.0 How to Address the Ethical Issues Instead of cutting down on the size of the workforce, a shift in balancing the workforce should be done since the cut leads to insignificant cut on costs as the remaining employees will need high maintenance hence more costs incurred. The incorporation of the ATP system generally means that the maintenance force needs to be upgraded. It involves the addition of different types of equipment which will need more hands to operate therefore increases the number of jobs. Due to the quality equipment, this kind of work tends to attract higher pay levels. Drivers in any transport are able to accommodate any demanding tasks without slowing down or affecting their core roles (Hamilton & Clarke, 2005; Wickens, 1989). However, evidence by (Lansdown et al, 2004) says that any additional workload drives the drivers to respond in a compensatory manner especially in braking which can affect the levels of performance. The passengers’ perceived ride quality will be determined by the skill and artistry portrayed by the driver hence the need to hire well trained and skilled drivers. Investment needs to be directed towards the training of staff so as to equip them with the right skills required for handling the new equipment which will help in the proper handling and maintenance. The conditions for travelling need to be quick, reliable, comfortable and affordable for the passengers to have a quality ride. Paying a reasonable amount of fare and safely arriving at their destination in a clean and comfortable environment is critical to the passenger. It is also critical to maintain a high level of service to ensure that the train operation functions are carried out to the latter all the while ensuring that the passengers are satisfied with their services. By monitoring the performance of individual trains, issues relating to adverse weather conditions, adjustments in schedules and station stops can be handled to prevent train operation irregularities. In trying to make the passengers feel more secure while on board, the presence of security officers or policemen in the train promoted passenger security. It is however important to discern the statistically measurable security issues of passengers from that of their perception while using the train. The maintenance issue is deeply rooted in getting the right skills specialized to operate the transit systems. The qualifications of the personnel handling these equipment largely influence the success of the maintenance operations. Extensive training of the maintenance personnel should therefore be a priority when it comes to investment in the ATP. 7.0 Relevance to Engineers ATP systems play a major part in engineers’ careers. Use of GPS with MMI to record driving information- before departure, a diagnosis system that tracks the speed and distance condition that keeps a driving record and gives information on the progress of the journey is done. This helps engineers to upgrade the safety of the passengers to higher levels. Maintain driving record and self-diagnosis system- the driver of the train can keep a driving record over subsequent trips and diagnose themselves on how to operate and the major pitfalls to avoid incase a possible risk occurs. Upgrade a FAIL-SAFE system- since human is to error and are more likely to do some mistakes, the ATP system acts as a backup safety net in those times that the driver may fail to observe some signs or lose control. The system automatically discovers any signs of an accident when it comes to stop signs and automatically applies the brakes to prevent collisions. 8.0 Challenges Faced and Recommendations In the production of this report, I faced various challenges; i. It was not easy to communicate to the train drivers given that they had busy schedules and had to maintain them. The passengers value time management hence getting feedback from the drivers proved to be stressful as it only lasted for a couple of minutes and most of the details were left out. Filling in the gaps without information was quite hard. ii. Some passengers were not very cooperative in the exercise. Could be lack of understanding or hostility towards strangers but all in all information was quite limited from both parties hence much dependency on secondary sources such as articles and journals. In my opinion, shifts should be provided for the train drivers to ensure they are not fatigued and to break the monotony of the journey given that they travel a lot and have little time for recreational activities. 9.0 Competencies developed Discernment of knowledge-in the current transport system, the discovery of the ATP has been quite instrumental and discovering the whole process on how it is installed and how it works. The emerging issues that comes with the implementation of the ATP such as loss of jobs and how it can be dealt with to avoid the disadvantage that falls upon the workforce. Discovering such issues and aligning them with the current state to work in favor of both parties without creating a loss has helped me develop some decision making skills. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains- listening to the views of other people and understanding their argument, debating and negotiating helps me gain more insight on the work and appreciating the input of the different people in the engineering industry by sharing their ideas. 10. Conclusion In light of the many accidents that occur in the transport system, the installation of the ATP systems in trains came as a saving grace. It may not have been able to prevent all the accidents related but it was able to decrease in number the cases of accidents occurring. Its invention has been of relevance to both the engineers and passengers. Engineers have been able to make notable progress in the railway industry coming up with new ways of ensuring safety and minimalizing traffic disruption with the ATP installation. The passengers could be said to be the biggest beneficiaries of this invention as their minds are now at ease feeling that their safety is guaranteed whenever travelling using the train. It may go a long way to fully secure and prevent all accidents but the ATP is definitely a start and with the numerous upcoming inventions, it is bound to become better and more developed in the coming years. References Davies, D. (2000). Automatic Train Protection for the Railway Network in Britain - a Study. 29 Great Peter Street, Westminster, London. Hamilton, W. & Clarke, T. (2005) Driver performance modelling and its practical application to railway safety. In Wilson, J. et al (Eds) Rail Human Factors. Ashgate, USA. Hely, M., Shardlow, T., Butt, B., Friswell, R., McIntosh, A. and Williamson, A. (2015). Effects of Automatic Train Protection on Human Factors and Driving Behavior. Proceedings 19th Triennial Congress of the IEA, Melbourne 9-14 August 2015 p.1-9 Lansdown, T., et al (2004) Distraction from multiple in-vehicle secondary tasks: vehicle performance and mental workload implications. Ergonomics, 47(1), 91-104. Norman, D. (1990). The Problem with Automation: Inappropriate Feedback and Interaction, not Over automation. Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. London. B 327, 585-593. Wickens, C.D. (1989) Attention and Skilled Performance. In Holding, D.H. (Ed.) Human Skills. Second Ed., Wiley, NY. Young, M.S. & Stanton, N.A. (2007) Driving automation: Learning from Aviation about Design Philosophies. International Journal of Vehicle Design, 45 (3), 323-338. Read More

The maintenance issue is deeply rooted in getting the right skills specialized to operate the transit systems. The qualifications of the personnel handling these equipment largely influence the success of the maintenance operations. Extensive training of the maintenance personnel should therefore be a priority when it comes to investment in the ATP. 7.0 Relevance to Engineers ATP systems play a major part in engineers’ careers. Use of GPS with MMI to record driving information- before departure, a diagnosis system that tracks the speed and distance condition that keeps a driving record and gives information on the progress of the journey is done.

This helps engineers to upgrade the safety of the passengers to higher levels. Maintain driving record and self-diagnosis system- the driver of the train can keep a driving record over subsequent trips and diagnose themselves on how to operate and the major pitfalls to avoid incase a possible risk occurs. Upgrade a FAIL-SAFE system- since human is to error and are more likely to do some mistakes, the ATP system acts as a backup safety net in those times that the driver may fail to observe some signs or lose control.

The system automatically discovers any signs of an accident when it comes to stop signs and automatically applies the brakes to prevent collisions. 8.0 Challenges Faced and Recommendations In the production of this report, I faced various challenges; i. It was not easy to communicate to the train drivers given that they had busy schedules and had to maintain them. The passengers value time management hence getting feedback from the drivers proved to be stressful as it only lasted for a couple of minutes and most of the details were left out.

Filling in the gaps without information was quite hard. ii. Some passengers were not very cooperative in the exercise. Could be lack of understanding or hostility towards strangers but all in all information was quite limited from both parties hence much dependency on secondary sources such as articles and journals. In my opinion, shifts should be provided for the train drivers to ensure they are not fatigued and to break the monotony of the journey given that they travel a lot and have little time for recreational activities. 9.0 Competencies developed Discernment of knowledge-in the current transport system, the discovery of the ATP has been quite instrumental and discovering the whole process on how it is installed and how it works.

The emerging issues that comes with the implementation of the ATP such as loss of jobs and how it can be dealt with to avoid the disadvantage that falls upon the workforce. Discovering such issues and aligning them with the current state to work in favor of both parties without creating a loss has helped me develop some decision making skills. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains- listening to the views of other people and understanding their argument, debating and negotiating helps me gain more insight on the work and appreciating the input of the different people in the engineering industry by sharing their ideas. 10. Conclusion In light of the many accidents that occur in the transport system, the installation of the ATP systems in trains came as a saving grace.

It may not have been able to prevent all the accidents related but it was able to decrease in number the cases of accidents occurring. Its invention has been of relevance to both the engineers and passengers. Engineers have been able to make notable progress in the railway industry coming up with new ways of ensuring safety and minimalizing traffic disruption with the ATP installation. The passengers could be said to be the biggest beneficiaries of this invention as their minds are now at ease feeling that their safety is guaranteed whenever travelling using the train.

It may go a long way to fully secure and prevent all accidents but the ATP is definitely a start and with the numerous upcoming inventions, it is bound to become better and more developed in the coming years.

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