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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Published on: August 8, 2019

Train drivers' sleep quality and quantity during extended relay operations.

Sarah M Jay¹, Drew Dawson, Nicole Lamond

¹The Centre for Sleep Research, The University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. sarah.jay@unisa.edu.au

Chronobiology International

|December 28, 2006

Summary

Train drivers on extended relay operations slept significantly less in onboard vans compared to home. Reduced sleep quantity, not quality, is a key concern for freight transport safety.

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Area of Science:

Occupational Health
Sleep Science
Transportation Logistics

Background:

Relay operations are crucial for Australian freight transport, involving continuous train movement and onboard rest for drivers.
Train drivers in relay work must sleep in designated onboard facilities during extended trips.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the quantity and quality of sleep in onboard rest facilities (relay vans) during four-day relay operations.
To compare sleep patterns in relay vans with home sleep for train drivers.

Main Methods:

Polysomnography and electroencephalography (EEG) were used to collect sleep data.
Home sleep data were recorded before and after trips, alongside sleep periods during the relay operation.
Subjective sleep quality ratings were collected after each sleep period.

Main Results:

Sleep quantity in relay vans (3.3 hours) was significantly lower than at home (6.8 hours).
Total sleep time shifted towards nighttime, with reduced daytime sleep.
No significant differences were found in sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, or specific sleep stages (slow-wave, REM) between home and relay van sleep.

Conclusions:

Reduced sleep quantity is the primary issue for train drivers during extended relay operations.
Further research is needed to understand the impact of reduced sleep on drivers' waking functions.