Robust Tactical Crew Scheduling Under Uncertain Demand

We analyze a tactical freight railway crew scheduling problem, when train drivers must be informed several weeks before operations about the start and end times and locations of their duties. Between informing the train drivers and start of operations, trip demand changes due to cancellations, new bookings, and reroutings of trains, which might result in mismatches between train driver capacity at a location and demand. We analyze an approach that incorporates uncertain trip demand as scenarios, such that the start and end times and locations of the duties of a crew schedule are recoverable robust against deviations in trip demand. We develop a column generation solution method that dynamically aggregates trips to duties and decomposes the subproblems into smaller, computationally tractable instances. Our model determines duty frames that cover duties in many scenarios, creating recoverable robust crew schedules. We test our model on three real data sets of a major European freight railway operator. Our results show that our schedules are considerably more recoverable robust than those of the nominal solution, resulting in smaller mismatches between train driver capacity and demand.

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS EFFECTIVENESS OF ELECTRIC TRAIN DRIVERS PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

Electric train driver work requires visual, auditory, tactile systems functioning high level, as well as mentality. These requirements caused the study directed to analyze the professional performance effectiveness these indicators, psychophysiological parameters including, for training and retraining in train driver (assistant train driver) profession. The research was carried out in the base of the training centers of professional qualifications of JSC «Russian Railways», 106 people were examined (age 27.2± 5.4 years) who were trained to perform all operations under work as train driver: first theoretically, then practically by special simulators use. There were evaluated: cardiovascular system state, complex visual-motor reaction time, «Landolt Ring» correction test as well as psychological methods of personal properties testing: reflection, self-regulation of behavior; the method of differentiated assessment of working capacity reduced. The dependence of working capacity of factor’s complex are determined. There are: organism’s functional state, psycho-emotional strain, adaptation mechanisms, motivational involvement, and target aspiration. Based on obtained data a set of promising methods has been determined to identify the possibility of reliable of driver operation and adjustment of his activities aimed at improving self-regulation skills as one of the main criteria for reliability of work.

The practical part of train driver education: experience, expectations, and possibilities

Objectives The internship period of the Swedish train driver education was examined in terms of which types of situations can be sufficiently encountered in order to develop expertise to handle them safely and efficiently, and to quantify and specify the gap in expertise between expert and novice drivers in terms of risk of error and time efficiency. Focus was on special cases (i.e., situations that occur rarely but may cause severe accidents if not handled correctly and efficiently). Methodology Data on which situations and special cases a driver's student can be expected to experience during the internship period were collected via a web-based questionnaire. Also, ratings of expectations on novice and expert drivers were obtained from train driver educators, employers, and instructors with the purpose of comparing the expectations with the novices practical experience. Results and conclusions The main results suggest that many special cases are generally insufficiently practiced during the internship and therefore should be practiced in simulators; that both experienced and novice drivers prioritize safety over efficiency; and that expectations on novice drivers are realistic considering their limited professional expertise.

Experimental Study on the Relationship between Fatigue and Unsafe Behavior of Urban Rail Transit Drivers

In recent years there has been rapid development of urban rail transit in China. The train driver, as the direct controller of the train, plays an important role in subway operation, and their driving performance directly determines whether the train is safe or not. To explore the relationship between fatigue and unsafe behavior, a simulated driving experiment was designed to record the train driver’s behavior under fatigue and normal state. The changes of operation accuracy and timeliness are used in combination to reflect the train driver’s unsafe behavior. The results show that when the train driver is in a state of fatigue, their operation accuracy is 126% lower than in the normal state. In the operation timeliness index, the time required for the train driver to react and complete the action is 28.13% and 17.7% longer than that in the normal state. It is concluded that fatigued driving can easily lead to unsafe behavior which then leads to potential safety accidents.

Electrophysiological Brain-Cardiac Coupling in Train Drivers during Monotonous Driving

Electrophysiological research has previously investigated monotony and the cardiac health of drivers independently; however, few studies have explored the association between the two. As such the present study aimed to examine the impact of monotonous train driving (indicated by electroencephalogram (EEG) activity) on an individual’s cardiac health as measured by heart rate variability (HRV). Sixty-three train drivers participated in the present study, and were required to complete a monotonous train driver simulator task. During this task, a 32 lead EEG and a three-lead electrocardiogram were recorded from each participant. In the present analysis, the low (LF) and high frequency (HF) HRV parameters were associated with delta (p < 0.05), beta (p = 0.03) and gamma (p < 0.001) frequency EEG variables. Further, total HRV was associated with gamma activity, while sympathovagal balance (i.e., LF:HF ratio) was best associated fronto-temporal delta activity (p = 0.02). HRV and EEG parameters appear to be coupled, with the parameters of the delta and gamma EEG frequency bands potentially being the most important to this coupling. These relationships provide insight into the impact of a monotonous task on the cardiac health of train drivers, and may also be indicative of strategies employed to combat fatigue or engage with the driving task.

Characteristics of Train Stations Where Railway Suicides Have Occurred and Locations Within the Stations

Background: To devise effective railway suicide countermeasures, it is necessary to identify stations where suicide is likely to occur. Aim: We explored the characteristics of stations where railway suicides have occurred and locations within the stations. Method: (Study 1) Using suicide data from between April 2014 and September 2019 provided by a major railway company in Japan, station-specific suicide was modeled as an outcome variable in a multivariate Poisson regression model. (Study 2) With railway company staff, we visited stations where suicide frequently occurs and conducted fieldwork. Results: (Study 1) Our estimation using a Poisson regression model revealed that railway suicides were more frequent when stations were serviced by passing trains, had a large number of passengers, and were located near psychiatric hospitals. (Study 2) Of 50 suicides, 48.0% occurred in front of benches or waiting rooms, 26.0% occurred at the front end of the platform, 24.0% occurred at the entrance to the platform, and 22.0% occurred at a blind spot for the train driver. Limitations: All data were provided by one railway company in Japan, limiting the generalizability of the results. Conclusion: Stations where suicide occurs frequently have distinct characteristics. Focusing on suicide hotspots may aid suicide prevention.