Tonbridge Signal Box Panel Replacement
Carillion
Background
The renewal programme was driven by the removal of a large proportion of the controlled area from Tonbridge Signal box which left much of the panel obsolete. The panel itself was also suffering from degradation to the wiring system. Network Rail contracted Carillion Rail to deliver a replacement panel for the Tonbridge box reflecting the new area of control. The Network Rail Ergonomics National Specialist Team conducted a preliminary human factors assessment of options for the new panel.
Project
We were appointed by Carillion to provide the required ergonomics assessment of the design options and to support them in developing a final design solution that would acceptable to the users and Network Rail management.
Implementation
We started with widespread stakeholder consultation which included staff at the signal box, Network rail engineers and project management, Carillion engineers and designers from Henry Williams, the panel manufacturers.
User consultation was conducted during an initial site visit, then via telephone during the design process and face to face during a mock-up trial. We captured the various operational requirements for the panel design. We also outlined any ergonomics parameters that needed to be taken into consideration during the design process.
We held a number of design review meetings with Network Rail, Carillion and Henry Williams. These were conducted to gain stakeholder buy-in and opinions on the various design proposals.
To enable full user input to the design we conducted a full scale mock-up trial of the design options. This allowed us to give a visual demonstration various options under consideration and facilitate a discussion of the rationale behind each design option. We worked with the users to review the pros and cons of each option and identify preferred option. We could then discuss more detailed design issues including the specific location of equipment on the new panel
Outcomes
We delivered a final preferred design that could be taken from this concept design stage into detailed design with confidence of its acceptance by the end client and the users who would be working it in the box.
The approval process for the design was supported by the delivery of an ergonomics design file that documented the development of the design including early options, rationale for progression to preferred options, notes of the design workshops and design decisions made and a full description and drawing package for the final design. This documentation enabled Carillion to get design approval from a variety of stakeholders including local Network Rail project managers and the Ergonomics team