Acoustical Warning Devices as Emergency Warning Signals (EWS) Phase 3: Performance Evaluation on a Locomotive

Emergency warning signal (EWS) sounds have been developed to improve safety for railroad workers and warn trespassers. Researchers conducted a literature review that addresses the need for a new EWS sound, the types of warning sounds used in railroad and non-railroad settings, and fundamental principles of human hearing as it relates to signal detection and masking effects from headphones and music. Preliminary EWS sounds were developed and their effectiveness evaluated with a listening survey. The survey measured the detectability, sense of urgency, identification/association of the sound with a train and the startle effect of various EWS sounds. Candidate EWS sounds were optimized and tested in an audio booth where participants listened to music with headphones while warning signals were reproduced to simulate a train approaching. Two candidate EWSs and a typical train horn sound were tested on board a moving locomotive on Transportation Technology Center (TTC) tracks. The EWS sounds were reproduced using an acoustical warning device speaker system and the response times of participants wearing hearing protection or headphones were measured. This research shows that an EWS could maintain its association/identification of a train approaching, improve detectability, and provide more time to persons wearing headphones to vacate the tracks.

• Record URL:
  https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/acoustical-warning-devices-emergency-warning-signals-ews-phase-3-performance-evaluation
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/57414
• Corporate Authors:

  QinetiQ North America

  350 Second Avenue
  Waltham, MA  United States  02451-1196

  VHB

  101 Walnut Street
  Watertown, MA  United States  02471

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Railroad Policy and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research, Development, and Technology
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Campbell, Tom
  • Parida, Basant
  • Ross, Jason
• Publication Date: 2021-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report; Technical Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 96p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Audible warning devices; Auditory perception; Horns; Maintenance personnel; Railroad safety; Trespassers; Warning signals
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01781317
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FRA/ORD-21/25
• Contract Numbers: TO-0014
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 4 2021 4:57PM