Automatic train protection

Attempts to improve the safety of rail operation have included technological improvements in signaling equipment and also improvements to the technology in the train driver's cab. While these improvements have undoubtedly increased the level of safety for rail operation, the potential for train driver error to result in a train passing a danger or stop signal remains. An account is presented of the on-going application of human factors in the production of the National Specification for British Rail's Automatic Train Protection System. This paper focuses on the development of the train driver interface and outlines the methodology used to identify issues which the specification needs to address together with the principles applied to address them.