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Human Performance in the Rail Freight Yard

Lookup NU author(s): Dr David GolightlyORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Human performance in the rail freight yard has been identified as a source of risk for rail freight operations. This is both within the yard itself, and also with train preparation issues leading to incidents on the network. The rail freight yard is an area that has received limited research attention. Over 30 hours of observations were conducted at five major freight yards in Great Britain, along with 30 interviews of rail freight ground staff. Task models, human performance factors and potential solutions that were further explored in a workshop with freight personnel. This analysis led to an understanding of freight yard activities, the impact of freight yard design and environment, and the role external pressures on freight yard performance including upstream planning. The implications are discussed for both current freight operations, and for future technology and process change within the rail freight sector.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Golightly D, Lonergan J, Ethell D

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Ergonomics

Year: 2024

Pages: ePub ahead of Print

Online publication date: 12/07/2024

Acceptance date: 17/06/2024

Date deposited: 26/06/2024

ISSN (print): 0014-0139

ISSN (electronic): 1366-5847

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2024.2375013

DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2024.2375013

ePrints DOI: 10.57711/kgbs-3h09


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Newcastle University QR Policy support Fund

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