Design of Train Operator Display Interface for Metro Cars
Challenges
Our client, one of the largest manufacturers of rolling stock in the world, was planning to submit a proposal for a major procurement contract. Their potential client, a prominent metropolitan transit authority serving a large American city, was seeking to expand its fleet of subway cars. As in all forms of public transit, providing quality service means relying on complex equipment that meets strict quality and safety standards.
The manufacturer looked to Cysca to design the train operator display interface, which enables the subway operator and maintenance teams to quickly access the critical information they need to provide world-class service every day to passengers who rely on this essential service.
Solutions
The display interface of subway rail cars presents a wide range of operational data, to help the operator react in the event of a malfunction or other exceptional situation. Subject to strict military-level and human-machine interface (HMI) design standards for safety-critical applications, the design of the interface was carefully crafted, integrating ergonomics and ease of use criteria. Compatibility with existing equipment was also taken into account, as subway operations are overseen using large-scale networks.
The result is an interface that is modern, intuitive, and user-friendly. Even though it can provide data on hundreds of embedded devices, the display is streamlined and easy to read at a glance. Safety-critical information remains continuously displayed, and the system provides additional information when the operator needs it using pop-up menus, a first in train operator displays for subway cars. The needs of the maintenance crew have also been considered, and it can access centralized operational data to optimize interventions and maximize rail car life cycle.
Results
Cysca’s design was an integral part of the proposal, and the manufacturer was awarded the major procurement contract. The interface was built to the required specifications to operate the new generation of subway cars.
The product has now been in service for a few years and the transit authority considers it a success. Operators and maintenance teams, for whom the tool is a key part of their jobs, also approve: they can make the most of all the latest technological advances with an interface that feels very familiar. Ultimately, it is the riders and the greater metropolitan area as a whole that benefit from a public transit system that contributes to community safety and prosperity.
Project Services and Industries
Software Engineering
Critical Systems
Public Transit – Subway
Sustainable Mobility