Driver Advisory System (DAS) now in use

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Following the fitment in the vast majority of HST^▸ (High Speed Train) cabs and the training of most of the drivers, following a successful trial period since the turn of the year, the DAS^▸ (Driver Advisory System) system is now in operation.  I was wondering if any of the passengers have noticed anything different about their journey over the last few weeks as a result, or whether the subtle differences are not noticeable unless you're in the cab?

This is an example of the system in operation, which I thought some of you might be interested in.



The bottom left hand of the screen show the current time, the time due at the next station and an ETA based on what time the train would arrive if it continued at the current speed.  The bottom left hand side gives the next station (or timing point), the type of train and the current location in miles and chains.

The top part of the screen shows what the driver is being advised to do, together with what should be done next.  So in this example, the system is saying that in order to arrive at the next station on time the driver should not exceed 115mph and then be prepared to coast until told otherwise.

I was a bit sceptical, but I have to say it's a pretty neat system.  It will make allowances for gradient, ruling linespeeds, train performance and TSR^▸ (Temporary Speed Restriction)'s, but not signals.  FGW^▸ (First Great Western) expects to save a lot of money on fuel over the whole fleet as getting up to 115mph and then coasting for, say, 10 miles, is far more fuel efficient than caning it at 125mph and sitting outside Reading station waiting a platform for 5 minutes!  The unions are also happy with it as it should mean that drivers come up against fewer restrictive signal aspects.  Their support was also secured when the drivers were bribed encouraged to use the system with a bonus payment scheme.

There are a few limitations though as it really needs a gap of at least ten minutes between station stops in order to be effective, so is of marginal use on the Cotswold Line for example.  That being said, having an accurate clock and accurate readout of your location in miles and chains will be welcomed by drivers.

[devon_metro]

Just shows how lax the schedules are 

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Thank you Indiustry Insider for explaining what the DAS^▸ (Driver Advisory System) does.  Certainly a very useful system eg for identifying where you are on a dark and foggy night down the Costwold line.  Clearly there is a potential conflict with other systems eg TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System), which may initiate a brake application whilst DAS is advising you to do 125, which is one good reason why we still need a Driver at the front. 

But maybe one day .....

[mjones]

...  The unions are also happy with it as it should mean that drivers come up against fewer restrictive signal aspects.  Their support was also secured when the drivers were bribed encouraged to use the system with a bonus payment scheme.

...

 

I've just been given some new software for my work laptop which will help me do my job more easily. Funnily enough, I'm not being paid a bonus to use it...

[Boppy]

Very interesting - thanks IndustryInsider.

One question I have is if the system is clever enough to know when a train needs to speed up to help out a train stuck behind in?  E.g. Two HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) with one behind the other approaching a junction where their routes divert.  The one behind is running late but the one in front is being told to coast at 115 whereas in actual fact it would be better to do 125.

Thanks,

Boppy.

[Btline]

Can it tell how far the train in front is/ whether there is a clear path ahead? Otherwise, one train could be doing 115 and another doing 125, with one catching up with the other.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Please add my thanks for the article...although sadly on my nightly HST^▸ (High Speed Train) between Reading and Thatcham I don't think it will be of much use but interesting all the same.

[Oxman]

You asked if anyone has noticed a change in driving style. I did Reading to Plymouth and return yesterday and more than once was aware that we were coasting for extended periods. First time I have noticed this. I sat in coach D on the way back and tracked progress on the moving map. The driver kept very closely to line limits and made good use of the down hill sections. We ran to time almost all the way to Reading before being held for a couple of minutes at Nelson's hat, for a slightly late arrival at Reading.

[BerkshireBugsy]

You asked if anyone has noticed a change in driving style. I did Reading to Plymouth and return yesterday and more than once was aware that we were coasting for extended periods. First time I have noticed this. I sat in coach D on the way back and tracked progress on the moving map. The driver kept very closely to line limits and made good use of the down hill sections. We ran to time almost all the way to Reading before being held for a couple of minutes at Nelson's hat, for a slightly late arrival at Reading.

I know that what I am about to suggest may not be viable...but I would like to see some of the info on the screens in Coach D...but then I'm a bit of a gadget freak who would probably watch the sat map on a plane than watch a film!

[Louis94]

Just shows how lax the schedules are 

Could of been on a service with Turbo based timings

[Btline]

Just shows how lax the schedules are 

Could of been on a service with Turbo based timings

All Oxford services are Turbo based timings as we're the first to get our HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) pulled. Even the fasts take a whole hour, which is madness really!

[The SprinterMeister]

I was a bit sceptical, but I have to say it's a pretty neat system.  It will make allowances for gradient, ruling linespeeds, train performance and TSR^▸ (Temporary Speed Restriction)'s, but not signals.  FGW^▸ (First Great Western) expects to save a lot of money on fuel over the whole fleet as getting up to 115mph and then coasting for, say, 10 miles, is far more fuel efficient than caning it at 125mph and sitting outside Reading station waiting a platform for 5 minutes! 

I don't think it does make allowances for gradients as such and as far as Devon and Cornwall is concerned I suspect it still needs a bit of fine tuning. Shutting off at Dauntsey old station going towards Swindon isn't to my mind sound advice.

However I can see why First are bringing the system in and it is actually a very good idea.

At the end of each run it gives the energy for the journey in Gigajoules. The figure on the display being that for the power car concerned and not both power cars.

One Gigajoule = 277.78 KW/hrs which with the 16V4000R41 specific fuel consumption being 195gm / KWhr and allowing for about 91% alternator efficiency equates to 16.4 gallons of fuel.

[The SprinterMeister]

You asked if anyone has noticed a change in driving style. I did Reading to Plymouth and return yesterday and more than once was aware that we were coasting for extended periods. First time I have noticed this. I sat in coach D on the way back and tracked progress on the moving map. The driver kept very closely to line limits and made good use of the down hill sections. We ran to time almost all the way to Reading before being held for a couple of minutes at Nelson's hat, for a slightly late arrival at Reading.

On certain trains it isn't actually neccessary to run the train at anywhere near line speed to keep time. The drivers you will find are aware of this and drive accordingly. 1A74 being a case in point. If it passes through Newbury at its booked passing time the driver can close the controller and roll the entire way to Southcote Jn and still pass that point early despite being down to around 75mph passing through Theale.

DAS^▸ (Driver Advisory System) is adaptive however and doesn't attempt to advise drivers to coast etc when the train is running late. Once the train becomes around 6 or more minutes late the DAS will display 'Advice not available, late running' and the driver will then drive the train in the normal way driving the train to make best use of the line speed parameters. Economy being of secondary importnace to punctuality.

[The SprinterMeister]

I know that what I am about to suggest may not be viable...but I would like to see some of the info on the screens in Coach D...but then I'm a bit of a gadget freak who would probably watch the sat map on a plane than watch a film!

DAS^▸ (Driver Advisory System) is a 'stand alone' system in the power car (although it must be linked to the power controller / engine MDEC box to give a 'Gigajoules used' figure) using GPS technology, the receiver head being mounted behind the horn grille. Therefore it isn't possible to feed it back down the 36 way control cable for display in the passenger coaches.

The Volo screens only show the moving map for about a minute or so before going back to default so you'd need to be pretty keen to follow progress that way. 

[Louis94]

The Volo screens only show the moving map for about a minute or so before going back to default so you'd need to be pretty keen to follow progress that way. 

Not anymore! A message pops up and asks 'Is the screen still in use' You just tap the screen to remove this and the map remains.