12 Nov 2024
Progress report – New Code of Practice for Rail Vigilance Timing Cycles
The Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB), in collaboration with rail industry specialists from Australia and New Zealand, is developing a new Code of Practice to improve the risk management of vigilance timing cycles in rail operations. This forthcoming document, scheduled for release in early 2025, aims to provide critical guidelines and best practices for establishing effective vigilance timing cycles that prioritise driver safety.
The new Code of Practice will guide the configuration of vigilance systems that are instrumental in managing driver alertness and response, promoting an integrated approach to reducing operational risks. This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing the safety of rail operations by considering vigilance timing cycles as a vital control measure to combat risks like driver fatigue and inattention.
Project status update
The development group, comprised of diverse industry specialists from across Australia and New Zealand, has met on five occasions over the past six months, and the project has now reached the sixth draft of the Code of Practice.
The diversity and expertise of the group have been invaluable in ensuring that the vigilance system is carefully considered as an integrated component of the broader driver safety system. This collaborative approach has enabled a detailed focus on the value of vigilance timing cycles as an integral element of driver safety.
A forward-looking approach to rail safety
Through this collaborative effort, RISSB is working with industry leaders to develop vigilance systems that are adaptable, integrated, and grounded in best practices.
The Code of Practice will support consistent safety standards across the Australian and New Zealand rail networks, helping to mitigate operational risks and safeguard passengers and drivers alike.
Addressing key safety challenges
The Code of Practice will address several pressing safety concerns by exploring and recommending industry-wide best practices:
- Driver Alertness: Current vigilance systems, while effective in detecting physical inputs, do not monitor actual alertness, creating potential gaps in managing driver fatigue. This document aims to address these challenges by recommending enhancements in system design.
- System Limitations: Existing systems focus on periodic driver inputs rather than continuous monitoring, lacking capabilities to detect overspeed events. The Code of Practice draws on past incidents, such as the 2003 Waterfall train disaster, to emphasize the need for improvements.
- Human Factors: Recognizing risks posed by driver habituation to alarms, the document advocates for more dynamic vigilance systems to maintain consistent driver engagement, particularly during long, monotonous journeys.
- Interoperability and Configuration: The Code of Practice emphasizes the importance of configurable vigilance systems to suit different operational contexts, ensuring these systems are adaptable for both suburban and regional rail services and can maintain interoperability across varying networks.
- Failure Responses: Addressing potential failures in vigilance systems, the document specifies the need for robust protocols, including emergency brake applications, to prevent safety compromises in case of driver incapacitation.