Digitalisation: Harnessing data to Improve Service Efficiency, Effectiveness, Safety and Reliability

Suzanne Heape

Siemens Rail Automation

Suzanne is an experienced Human Factors specialist with extensive knowledge of applying Human Factors (HF) in the rail industry; both metros and main-line. She has a Master’s Degree in Ergonomics (Human Factors) and is a registered member of both the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Suzanne has worked as a HF Specialist in the Rail industry for 14 years. In this time she has contributed to a wide range of projects and has extensive experience of successfully integrating HF into major complex schemes, in particular those in the areas of control centres and signalling control. Suzanne joined Siemens as the Human Factors Delivery Manager (HFDM) for the Victoria Line Upgrade (VLU) in 2006 and supported this project through to its successful commissioning in 2012.  Suzanne has provided expertise on many different types of rail projects including London’s capability upgrades, driver training programmes for Network Rail (NR), and development for RSSB of the Human Factors Signal Sighting Framework and SPAD (signals passed at danger) Hazard Checklist. In this time she has supported the development of all types of Human Machine Interfaces and work environments including those for signalling control systems and control centres, maintenance diagnostics, station equipment rooms, trackside hardware, and driver-cab systems and cab layouts. Recently she has provide HF support to NR digital rail projects due for completion in 2018/19.