Mark started as train driver in NS and is since 2016 participating in the Dutch National ERTMS Programme, as well in the NS ERTMS Programme as an Operational ETCS Expert. Mark works and has worked in several different teams concerning the following: operational rules, retrofitting rolling stock, specifying new rolling stock, ATO, designing driver’s training, writing and performing ETCS-tests and analysing JRU / ETCS train data. All these different roles come down to one thing; how can we facilitate train drivers to perform at their best, together with ETCS and new technologies. Besides that, Mark is a member of ERA ERTMS OH User Group and CER OH.

‘Maintaining ERTMS skills and knowledge’ (co-presentation with Elise Pikaar)

NS (Dutch Railways) needs to start training train drivers in ERTMS in order to have enough ERTMS skilled drivers in the near future, when the Level 2-only lines are rolled out. The Netherlands does not currently have enough ERTMS tracks for train drivers to maintain their ERTMS skills after their training. NS has therefore developed an ERTMS skill and knowledge maintenance plan. The plan is currently being researched from a Human Factors perspective. The presentation will focus on this research and give examples about what our challenges are and the tools we use. I want to let the audience experience one tool we’ve developed; they can use their mobile devices to participate.