Author(s)

J. Wikström, A. Kauppi, P. Hellström, A.W. Andersson & B. Sandblad

Abstract

Today’s train traffic control systems are most often designed with a focus on controlling the technology rather than on supporting the train traffic controller in achieving optimal traffic solutions. Train dispatchers often have to interact with many separate information systems in order to understand the traffic situation, to make decisions and to perform control tasks. An integrated and complete picture, showing the status of the entire traffic situation, is most often not at hand. We have found that train dispatchers create their own picture, in the form of a dynamic mental model, based on long experience and available fragmented information. This is a very demanding cognitive process that forces the dispatcher to focus on understanding and gathering information about the situation instead of solving the problems. In the future these ment

Keywords