As the number of commuters opting to catch public transport increases, so does the risk of accidents occurring. Metlink recently reported that Melbourne’s public transport system has experienced a 6.2 per cent growth in the past 12 months. Melbourne has the third largest tram network in the world, and Yarra Trams currently operates 31 of its major routes. With a fleet of 474 trams which conduct over 141 million passenger trips each year, Yarra recognizes its duty of care to the millions of passengers that use its services every year and has made safety a top priority.

In an effort to improve safety on trams, Yarra Trams has decided to integrate the high-tech VigilVanguard training and evaluation system into its current operator training program. The VigilVanguard system supplied by Vigil Systems is used in some of the largest transit organization worldwide, including Los Angeles Metro in the US and Kowloon Motor Bus in Hong Kong.

The VigilVanguard system consists of a range of advanced sensors, video cameras, GPS and a tablet PC which are used to analyse, record and review an operator’s performance during a training session. The system is highly portable and can be mounted to any vehicle type. This means trainers are able to take operators for a training session on a normal tram route, assessing responses to real-world situations which occur every day. Sensors automatically detect and record event data such as braking, acceleration rates and speed and linked to the moving map display provided by a global positioning system.

The impact of trainer objectivity is also reduced through the use of up to four flexible video cameras, which capture both an external view of the route and an internal view of the operators actions. This visual aid helps operators understand how their actions can contribute to hazardous situations.