Design and Evaluation Methods for Non-Technical Skills Training for Shinkansen Train Crew

Abstract

In recent years, several railway accidents and incidents have continued to occur due to human error, indicating that further safety improvements are required even in highly developed railway systems such as the Shinkansen. Analyses of recent incidents at East Japan Railway Company (JR East) have revealed that, in addition to technical skills (TS), non-technical skills (NTS)—particularly situation awareness—play a critical role in accident prevention. However, current training programs mainly focus on procedural compliance and do not sufficiently address individual differences in NTS, nor do they provide objective and consistent evaluation criteria for such skills. This study proposes a methodology for designing NTS-oriented training scenarios tailored to the individual characteristics of Shinkansen crew members and for developing quantitative evaluation indicators for NTS. First, crew members’ individual characteristics were classified into three error tendency types—lapse, automatic action errors, and decision errors—based on previous incident analyses and a self-assessment questionnaire. Next, the relationships between these individual characteristics and a JR East–specific NTS framework were systematically organized, and NTS elements requiring reinforcement were identified for each type. Based on this framework, NTS components were embedded into existing simulator-based training scenarios, using a rolling stock failure response by a train driver as an illustrative example. Additional scenario elements were designed to elicit observable NTS behaviors, such as situation awareness, decision making, and communication with dispatchers and conductors. Furthermore, behaviorally anchored, three-level quantitative evaluation indicators (“Adequately Demonstrated,” “Partially Demonstrated,” and “Not Demonstrated”) were developed to reduce subjectivity and inter-instructor variability in NTS assessment. The proposed approach enables the integrated training and evaluation of TS and NTS while accounting for individual differences among crew members. This framework is expected to enhance abnormal situation handling capabilities of Shinkansen crew and to contribute to further improvements in railway safety through more systematic and objective NTS training.