Decision-support tool for tunnel train-fire scenarios MTRC Lok Ma Chau (LMC) Spur Line (Hong Kong)

Tunnel train-fire is one of the most hazardous scenarios in railway operations. All railway systems involved in the handling of tunnel train-fire scenarios are designed with redundant components. However hardware redundancy alone will not be sufficient; safety cannot only be covered by system redundancy. Operability becomes the key area of concern for large-scale complex socio-technical systems, such as the railway system. One of the critical design aspects in the context of system operability is the human-computer interaction (HCI). Without a robust HCI, the operations are prone to human errors. Unfortunately, the conventional HCI model for tunnel train-fire scenarios provides mainly on remote control and monitoring functions. All decision making processes are mostly initiated by operators themselves. If the scenario is simple, the decision making process is straightforward. However, if the scenario is complicated, the decision making will involve a series of complex processes, which demands extra cognitive loading to operators; therefore prompt and accurate responses from operators may not be practical. This paper describes the design, implementation and operational benefits of a dynamic decision-support tool (DST) for tunnel train-fire scenarios in MTR Corporation´s (MTRC) Lok Ma Chau (LMC) Spur Line. The dynamic DST, to be implemented in MTRC East Rail Lines´ (ERL) integrated control and communications system (ICCS), provides a unified HCI to the operators in east rail lines operations control centre (ERL-OCC) for emergency tunnel train-fire operations.