For my human factors and ergonomics course, I conducted an accident investigation using a fault-tree analysis on the 2014 Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line crash, where a train operator failed to stop at a red signal and subsequently collided with the end of the tracks at O'Hare Blue Line station.
I will be presenting this work at the 2025 Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA!
Abstract: This paper analyzes the Chicago Transit Authority’s March 24, 2014, accident where a train overran the end of the tracks at O’Hare Station. This was a serious accident with service and safety impacts, so further investigation is needed to prevent future accidents of a similar nature. The merits of Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology are considered from safety and operational perspectives. A fault-tree analysis is conducted using information from the National Transportation Safety Board accident report and post-accident recommendations to understand the root causes of the accident. Based on the fault-tree analysis, opportunities for CBTC to mitigate root causes of such an accident are found, and a recommendation for CBTC implementation on rail mass transit systems to improve system safety is made.
