202410 – Symes – Train Control System Information Management: What is “Just Right” and How Do We Get There?

The Public Transport Authority operates a centralised train control system for the Perth Metropolitan network. Currently, the network is undergoing a huge amount of growth due to Metronet. With these projects comes a significant increase in the amount of information to be shown to our Network Controllers via the TCS. Recently, our network controllers have identified errors and deficiencies on proposed panel layouts. Additionally, due to project scheduling challenges, we will soon operate sections of the network with mismatches between field and panel layouts. This introduces safety risks to train operations and erodes controller confidence In tandem, an internal project is ongoing to determine how to show additional requested information, such as asset chainage. The challenge here lies in how we choose to display this additional information without clutter and ensure its accuracy.

It is apparent that the current processes for determining TCS information requirements are lacking. How do we balance the needs of the signalling design and the controller information requirements, and reflect this in our inputs to TCS design? The paper explores how we can better capture the need of our operational teams and use human factor design principles and cognitive ergonomics to determine what amount of information is “just right”.