TRAIN DRIVER IN CAB ATTENTION & ALERTNESS MONITORING DEVICE

Our ref: HSR

1^st August 2025

Dear RMT driver member 

TRAIN DRIVER IN CAB ATTENTION & ALERTNESS MONITORING DEVICE

You may be aware that for some time now the rail industry and the rail regulator have been keen to see the introduction of in-cab attention and alertness monitoring devices.  

I write as regards their latest attempt to move this forward - which is through a RSSB trial, “Driver Attention and Alertness IMP-T1193”. 

The trial is running on LNER, C2C and DB Cargo operated trains. The equipment (provided by a company called ‘Seeing Machine’) and is installed on a limited number of trains and activates when the driver shows signs of fatigue. Following some initial problems when the equipment was giving false readings, leading to a temporary pause in the trial, it has now restarted with a more gradual approach. The trial is monitored by a steering group which meets monthly and is attended by officers from the train companies involved, ORR, RSSB, ASLEF and RMT (our involvement was only following my remonstrations with RSSB that they hadn’t initially invited RMT). 

I have notified RSSB T1193 project leads that RMT oppose the use of cameras in driving cabs – and that I am concerned as to the creeping introduction of digital monitoring and surveillance cameras relating to in cab technology.

Additionally, I have taken the following actions as regards the trial:

-       I have met with ASLEF senior officials to discuss the trial and to share RMT concerns 

-       Invited the RSSB project lead officer to meet with RMT NEC members so that RMT could gain a better understanding of the attention and alertness monitoring device

-       Written to RSSB regarding their trial and explained that the need for a trial of in cab driver monitoring equipment was over reliant on the findings and recommendations of the RAIB report: ‘Overturning of a tram at Sandilands junction’ and subsequent RAIB recommendations, one of which was for research of systems which are capable of detecting driver attention, in doing this they ignore the principals of the hierarchy of control approach under which engineering controls reduce exposure by preventing hazards 

-              Made it clear that data must be kept separately for the purposes of the trial (to understand the causes of loss of alertness and consequences of fatigue in train drivers) and the distinctions between the trial and operational/organisational learning

-              Explained that RSSB trial objectives are contradictory; RSSB claim the trial is about learning causes of loss of attention etc and encouraging fair culture approach in addressing this, but then state the objective is to reduce consequences of loss of attention by physically warning drivers

-              Written to Network Rail, as regards their initial failure to consult with RMT in relation how the trial will impact our signaller members and other Network Rail operations staff impacted by the trial.

RSSB have explained that on completion of the trial the system would be shut down and would not be used “without industry agreement” - my fear is that industry will agree to this. 

In conclusion, I am concerned that this equipment will stay in place once the trial has concluded and will be rolled out to be fitted on all trains. That companies will no longer be interested/ have an incentive to address the underlying reasons/causes of fatigue. RMT are not in agreement that these monitoring systems constitute an appropriate control measure for loss of alertness or consequences of fatigue in operational rail staff including train drivers.

I will continue to provide you with updates relating to the progress of this project.  If you have any concerns about attention and alertness in cab monitoring equipment, please notify RMT health and safety department: healthandsafety@rmt.org.uk    

Yours sincerely

 

Eddie Dempsey, 

General Secretary