Signal RS57 passed at danger involving suburban passenger train 1W33, Roma Street Station, Queensland, on 5 September 2017

At about 1623 Eastern Standard Time on 5 September 2017, the Queensland Rail (QR) suburban non-revenue passenger train 1W33, departed Mayne Depot and travelled on the Exhibition loop towards Roma Street Station, Brisbane, Queensland (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Train 1W33 route from Mayne depot to Roma Street Station, Brisbane, Queensland

Image shows signal and station locations. Note that the colour of the signal markers denotes the aspect of the signal passed by 1W33.

Source: Google Earth annotated by ATSB.

The penultimate signal prior to Roma Street Station (RS49) displayed a restricted indication (flashing yellow aspect^[1]) for the driver. As train 1W33 approached signal RS49, the driver slowed down in preparation for a 25 km/h speed board placed adjacent the signal. The driver recalled that the Automatic Warning System (AWS)^[2] generated an in-cab alert of the restricted signal RS49 indication ahead and that he acknowledged the AWS alert. At about 1628, train 1W33 continued past signal RS49 towards signal RS57, just west of Roma Street Station. Signal RS57 was displaying a stop indication (red aspect) to allow other train movements to clear Roma Street Station before train 1W33 would be authorised to continue.

Meanwhile, passenger train 1K56 was preparing to depart Roma Street Station from platform 8 (Figure 2). At about 1628, train 1K56 departed Roma Street Station travelling west towards the Springfield line via points 226 set normal.^[3] About 11 seconds after train 1K56 cleared 226 points, train 1W33 proceeded past signal RS57 at danger. Train 1W33 ran through^[4] points 226 about 26 seconds after passing RS57 at danger and travelled east into platform 8.

Figure 2: Western end Roma Street Station layout, Brisbane, Queensland

Image shows track infrastructure layout west of Roma Street Station with the directions of travel and path for trains 1W33 and 1K56.

Source: Queensland Rail annotated by ATSB.

At approximately the same time, another train (15X2) had just departed Central Station and was travelling towards Roma Street Station on a converging route with train 1W33 from the east.

As train 1W33 passed signal RS57, an alarm activated at the QR Rail Management Centre. The Network Control Officer, broadcast an emergency radio message, calling for the driver of 1W33 and the driver of 15X2 to stop. At about 1630 the two drivers confirmed they had stopped.

Train 15X2 came to a stop approximately 25 m prior to signal RS102. Signal RS102 is the signal before the eastern entry signal (RS100) into platform 8 at Roma Street Station (Figure 3). Signal RS102 was displaying a single yellow caution^[5] indication at this time due to signal RS100 displaying a stop indication. The signal interlocking system had restored Signal RS100 to stop when train 1W33 entered platform 8 at Roma Street Station. The two converging trains stopped approximately 550 m from each other.

Figure 3: Train 15X2 route from Central Station towards eastern entry of Roma Street Station, Platform 8

Image shows signal locations and stopping locations of train 1W33 and 15X2. Note that colour of the signal markers denote the aspects displayed after 1W33 entered the platform track circuit at Roma Street Station.

Source: Google Earth annotated by ATSB.

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1. Special Caution indication advising the driver to proceed to the next stop signal at a speed not exceeding 40 km/h. Source: Queensland Rail Observance of Signals Manual.
2. An advisory system that provides audible and visual warnings to the driver on the approach to signals.
3. The normal position of points generally refers to the position set to give optimum protection to other routes. The opposite position is referred to as points set reverse.
4. A movement through trailing points set in the wrong position. Damage to the point mechanism and switch rail usually results.
5. A Caution indication, advises drivers that they must expect the next signal to be at Stop. Drivers can proceed towards the next signal being prepared to stop prior to the next signal. Source: Queensland Rail Observance of Signals Manual.

The ATSB explored the following aspects which have been known as contributing factors in other signal passed at danger incidents.

Environmental conditions

A review of the CCTV^[6] images from the time of the incident and driver comments indicated that the weather conditions were fine and clear. Further to this, no rainfall had been recorded for Brisbane on the day of the incident by the Bureau of Meteorology. The ATSB found that environmental conditions did not contribute to this incident.

Human performance

The ATSB reviewed the health assessment records, drugs and alcohol test results, rosters (with respect to fatigue) and competency records related to the driver of train 1W33. In conjunction with the driver comments, the ATSB found that these human performance factors did not contribute to this incident.

Rolling stock

Train 1W33 consisted of two coupled Suburban Multiple Units (SMU’s), with SMU 261 leading and SMU 279 trailing. Train 1W33 weighed approximately 256 tonnes and had a length of approximately 150 m.

As permitted by the Queensland Rail standard for operational integrity of trains, event recorders^[7] for suburban multiple units SMU 261 and SMU 279 had both been temporarily removed for repairs and therefore did not record rolling stock inputs in relation to this incident (refer to ATSB comment below). However, driver comments and examination of available CCTV footage did not suggest any degradation of braking performance of train 1W33.

Visibility of signal RS57

Signal RS57 was a 4-aspect^[8] main line signal fitted with a junction indicator and low speed shunt signal (Figure 4). Signal RS57 authorised train movements towards signals RS83 or RS85 located at the eastern end of Roma Street Station (platforms 8 and 7).

Figure 4: Signal configuration of RS57, at Roma Street Station, Brisbane

Source: Queensland Rail

Signal RS57 was located at the end of a left hand curve adjacent to Roma Street Station on the right hand side of the track in the direction of travel. Due to the curvature of the track and the placement of the overhead catenary masts, RS57 signal sighting was limited to approximately 103 m.

Queensland Rail managed the limited signal sighting with the application of a 25 km/h speed restriction from signal RS49 leading up to signal RS57 and LED signal lamps had recently been installed. In addition, other controls have been considered and implemented as part of Queensland Rail’s ongoing signal sighting reviews.

The ATSB found that the configuration and sighting of signal RS57 did not contribute to this incident.

Signal SPAD history

The ATSB found that signal RS57 had been passed at danger on six occasions since 2007. Queensland Rail records for these SPAD events noted varying sources of driver distraction as the causal factor for each event.

Figure 5: Signal RS57 10 year SPAD history

Image shows that in 2007 three reports for signals passed at danger for RS57 were recorded, plus three more each in 2009, 2012, and this event in 2017.Source: Queensland Rail records graphed by ATSB.

Following the three SPAD’s in 2007, Queensland Rail identified RS57 as a multi-SPAD signal and had undertaken SPAD risk studies and regular reviews of the signal sighting. These risk studies and reviews led to the identification and, where accepted, the implementation of additional controls. This incident is the first time RS57 had been passed at danger in five years.

Driver distraction

Driver distraction can be understood as a type of inattention and has been defined as ‘the diversion of attention away from activities critical for safe driving toward a competing activity (occurring) voluntarily or involuntarily’.^[9] A physical source of distraction common in today’s society is the use of mobile phones. In this case, the driver reported he was not using his phone and there was evidence showing that his phone was not used at the time of the incident. Similarly, the driver reported no distractions from any radio chatter or noticing anything external to the train.

While the source of distraction can often be physical, it can also be non-physical. For example, a situation where task-irrelevant thoughts interfere with task-relevant thoughts can also contribute to distraction and decrease task performance.

A contributor to irrelevant thoughts is emotional mood states which have been described as providing a third processing layer on top of cognitive and physiological levels. ‘Emotions play an important role in motivating people to initiate and maintain a task in the first place, but they may also interfere with cognitive processing. In particular, under time pressure or threatening conditions, the regulation of our emotions is critical for efficient task performance’.^[10]

A research study into the effects of emotional mood states on irrelevant thoughts and cognitive task performance concluded that ‘people produce more irrelevant thoughts during emotional mood states, and when the proportion of irrelevant thoughts to relevant thoughts increases, performance suffers.’^[11]

In relation to this incident, the driver advised that prior to commencing work he recalled a significant past personal event that resulted in an emotional response. It is likely this contributed to an increase in task-irrelevant thoughts that led to the driver being distracted from observing and reacting appropriately when approaching signal RS57 displaying a stop indication.

ATSB comment

The function of a safety investigation is to identify and reduce safety-related risk, by gathering information and evidence to form conclusions based on the facts.

The ATSB noted that the Queensland Rail standard for operational integrity of trains permitted trains into service on their network without an operational event recorder. In this case, the ATSB relied on CCTV footage and the driver’s recollection for identifying the sequence of events. The absence of recorded data prevented further verification of the driver’s performance against operational practice.

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6. Abbreviation for Closed Circuit Television.
7. A device / system designed to resist tampering, with crash-protected non-volatile memory, that records event data to support accident or incident analysis. Source: Queensland Rail Event recorders for rolling stock specification.
8. Although RS57 was fitted with a 4 aspect signal head, only 3 aspects are in use, with the signal not configured to display a green aspect.
9. Regan, M.A., Hallett, C. & Gordon, C.P. (2011). Driver distraction and driver inattention: Definition, relationship and taxonomy. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 43, 1771-1781.
10. Gaillard, A.W.K. (2001). Stress, workload and fatigue as three bio-behavioural states: A general overview. In P.A. Hancock, & P.A. Desmond (Eds.), Stress, workload, and fatigue. Mahwah, NJ: L. Erlbaum.
11. Pennie S. Seibert and Henry C. Ellis, (1991), Memory & Cognition Irrelevant thoughts, emotional mood states, and cognitive task performance, 507-513.

From the evidence available, the following findings are made with respect to train 1W33 passing signal RS57 at danger near Roma St Station, Brisbane, Queensland, on 5 September 2017. These findings should not be read as apportioning blame or liability to any particular organisation or individual.

Contributing factors

• The driver of 1W33 was distracted by personal emotional thoughts from his task of observing and reacting appropriately when approaching signal RS57 displaying a stop indication.

Other findings

• A SPAD alarm activated at the QR Rail Management Centre prompting the network control officer to broadcast an emergency radio message stopping all affected trains.

Sources of information

The sources of information during the investigation included the:

• Queensland Rail (QR)
• Train driver involved in incident
• Recorded data
• Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB)
• Bureau of Meteorology.

References

Queensland Rail Observance of Signals Manual (MD-10-109).

Queensland Rail Event recorders for rolling stock specification (MD-10-217).

Queensland Rail Operational Integrity Of Trains standard (MD-10-106).

Rail Industry and Safety Standards Board, 2010, National Guideline Glossary of Railway Terminology.

Pennie S. Seibert and Henry C. Ellis, (1991), Memory & Cognition Irrelevant thoughts, emotional mood states, and cognitive task performance, 507-513.

Regan, M.A., Hallett, C. & Gordon, C.P. (2011). Driver distraction and driver inattention: Definition, relationship and taxonomy. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 43, 1771-1781.

Gaillard, A.W.K. (2001). Stress, workload and fatigue as three bio-behavioural states: A general overview. In P.A. Hancock, & P.A. Desmond (Eds.), Stress, workload, and fatigue. Mahwah, NJ: L. Erlbaum.

Submissions

Under Part 4, Division 2 (Investigation Reports), Section 26 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (the Act), the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) may provide a draft report, on a confidential basis, to any person whom the ATSB considers appropriate. Section 26 (1) (a) of the Act allows a person receiving a draft report to make submissions to the ATSB about the draft report.

A draft of this report was provided to Queensland Rail, the driver of train 1W33, and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.

Any submissions from those parties will be reviewed and where considered appropriate, the text of the draft report will be amended accordingly.

Whether or not the ATSB identifies safety issues in the course of an investigation, relevant organisations may proactively initiate safety action in order to reduce their safety risk. The ATSB has been advised of the following proactive safety action in response to this occurrence.

As a result of this occurrence, Queensland Rail has advised the ATSB they are taking the following safety actions:

• A qualitative analysis of the SPAD scenarios at RS57 using a bowtie model.
• Present a health and wellbeing strategic plan to the Executive Leadership Team which includes an organisational resilience and psychological wellbeing education and awareness program.
• Human factors review of driver response to AWS audible indications and reaction times for green and restricted signals.
• Facilitate the decrease in volume of the AWS audible indication at a proceed signal (green) and increase the volume of an AWS audible indication at a restricted signal (double yellow, yellow, and red).
• Queensland Rail have sought expressions of interest from market leaders to partner with Queensland Rail to implement ETCS (European Train Control System) on sections of the Queensland Rail network. ETCS incorporates automatic train protection that provides for monitoring of train speed and limits of authority to ensure trains stay within designated speed limits and authorised safeworking limits.