Are safety systems like ATP the answer for the British rail network?
No technology can be THE answer. Technology will always only provide part of the solution in decreasing risks in complex systems. The nuclear power industry has long recognised that the human factor that operates, maintains and checks any automated technology is frequently the weak link when an emphasis is placed exclusively on safety via technology. For railways this means proper investment not just in technology for improved safety, but in the industry’s human resources as well. Staff training, morale, remuneration, and motivation are all key elements in a package the includes new technology such as ATP. But it will be also important to continue the refinement and improvement of the overall safety system after ATP has been fitted, if it is. Technology does not solve problems on its own and over reliance on technology can itself cause problems.
