From control to supervision: The impact of automated train operations on train drivers’ job characteristics and their influence on technology acceptance

The operational conditions of train drivers undergo significant changes due to the introduction of automation. In this study, we aim to investigate the influence that higher grades of automation (GoA3) have on train drivers’ job characteristics and occupational satisfaction, and how these changes affect drivers’ acceptance of higher degrees of automation in railway operations. We expect that jobs characteristics of train operations change due to the introduction of GoA3+, where the train driver navigates the train remotely in case of a disruption of the automatic train operation (ATO), compared to his or her current occupation under GoA2. We also expect this change to have a positive or negative effect on the train drivers' acceptance of the ATO and the remote workplace, depending of the direction of the change in job characteristics due to the introduction of ATO.