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Related Experiment Videos

How well do train driver's sleep in relay vans?

Nicole Lamond1, David Darwent, Drew Dawson

  • 1The Centre for Sleep Research, The University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Industrial Health
|March 1, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Train drivers on relay work get less sleep, averaging 4 hours per opportunity compared to 7.8 hours at home. Sleep quality is also reduced during relay trips, with timing affecting rest.

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Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Sleep Science
  • Transportation Logistics

Background:

  • Relay working operations in train transport necessitate rotating 8-hour shifts for train drivers.
  • Crews alternate between driving and sleeping onboard trains during multi-day relay trips.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of relay work on the sleep quantity and quality of train drivers.
  • To compare sleep patterns during relay operations with sleep obtained at home.

Main Methods:

  • Fourteen train drivers participated in the study.
  • Wrist activity monitors and sleep/wake diaries were used for data collection over 3 days pre-trip and during short (<48 hours) relay trips.

Main Results:

  • Drivers averaged 7.8 hours of sleep per night at home versus 4 hours per sleep opportunity during relay trips.
  • Sleep during relay operations exhibited longer sleep onset latencies, lower efficiency, and poorer subjective quality compared to home sleep.
  • Sleep quantity and quality were significantly influenced by the timing of sleep opportunities, with evening opportunities yielding better results than early morning or daytime ones.

Conclusions:

  • Train drivers can obtain sleep during short relay operations, but it is of lower quality than sleep at home.
  • The timing of sleep opportunities is a critical factor influencing both the amount and quality of sleep achieved during relay work.

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