A People Centred Design: Human Factors Integration of the Crossrail Route Control Centre

Abstract

Pivotal to the safe, reliable and efficient running of Crossrail is the Romford Route Control Centre (RCC). The RCC is s a dedicated control suite responsible for command and control of the Elizabeth Line Central Operating Section (COS). The infrastructure will be operated by Rail for London Infrastructure (RfLI) and the Crossrail Train Operating Company (CTOC) will be operated by Mass Transit Railway (MTR). The RCC brings together RfLI signalling and power control with MTR’s service delivery teams, operating an end-to-end service for the COS from one control room. This is leading edge in the railway industry, historically these stakeholders would operate from separate control functions. In relation to the RfLI signalling and power control, this has offered the opportunity for Traffic Managers to be multi-skilled and competent in both areas of control, allowing for flexibility within the control teams and enhanced understanding across both functions. The RCC is located as a dedicated suite of rooms within the Network Rail new build Romford Rail Operating Centre (ROC). This includes an operational Control Room, Incident Room, Training Simulator Room and a number of additional ancillary rooms designed to support the main control area. The RCC is a complex, socio-technical system which brings together people, operations, management, control systems and physical equipment, all within the RCC environment. By recognising the interaction between these elements, an integrated approach to human factors and ergonomics in the design of the RCC has been crucial in supporting operator performance and reducing the risk for human errors. The RCC Human Factors (HF) integration team have been responsible for ensuring a people centred design from identifying the early control room function requirements through to developing the concept design, detailed design and undertaking validation exercises during Dynamic Testing. By working collaboratively with Crossrail, RfLI and MTR, the RCC HF integration team have ensured that key stakeholder’s and end-user requirements have been identified, documented and met within the design. This paper discusses the approach to human factors undertaken to support the assurance case for Entry into Trial Running and describes the next phases of work during trial running and trial operations as the team start collating operational feedback from the live railway environment.