Media centre

Friday 5 Nov 2010

DRIVER TRAINING IS VIRTUALLY A REALITY FOR NEW RAIL LINK

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Train drivers on the new Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link are the first in Great Britain to benefit from a cutting edge high definition training tool developed by Network Rail.

The virtual reality simulation of the new 15-mile rail link will be distributed to train operator ScotRail on blu-ray disc for use in its training rooms.

The simulation replicates all the track, bridges, platforms, landmarks, junctions and signalling that drivers will experience along the route with a level of detail and clarity not previously possible

The resource was created for Network Rail by Gioconda, specialists in high definition film and 3D virtual reality tools for the rail industry.

Ron McAulay, Network Rail’s Director, Scotland said: “Safety is paramount for our industry, and this system will aid learning and help to improve the skills and knowledge of people working in the industry and contribute to delivering a better, safer railway. Virtual reality simulation has proven its worth as a training aid in the past but with such exceptionally high definition, drivers will now have a level of detail and familiarity never experienced before, giving them a valuable head-start in their on-route training.”

Simon Gardiner, managing director of Gioconda, added: “By gathering together relevant information from a wide range of sources - for example, construction plans, maps and photography along and about the new rail link - we are able to create what will be ‘reality’ for the drivers when the route has been completed. As well as the visual element, other useful information, such as service speeds and platform distances, pertinent to safely negotiating the route, have been over-laid to create a detailed and comprehensive learning and training resource.

“The use of high definition adds detailed information and a level of clarity that makes the learning experience more thorough. Additional informational graphics are overlaid onto the HD Virtual simulation giving the viewer all the information they need, when combined with the route maps, to 'learn' the new layout prior to commissioning. HD is definitely the way forward for this kind of training as drivers can easily read signage, ID numbers and important information which was previously displayed as blurred or unreadable.”

David Campbell, a ScotRail driver manager, said: ”This will be a valuable tool for drivers to gain the knowledge they need to be able to operate the new services.

“Training drivers on new routes is an intensive process combining theoretical knowledge, practical skills and experience on the routes. All have the express purpose of equipping drivers with the tools they need to deliver a safe and reliable high quality service to passengers. Using such technology will help drivers familiarise themselves with the route and its demands in advance of getting into the cab and taking trains across the route for the first time.”

Driver training on the new link began in October and the new route will open on 12 December – creating a fourth link across the central belt between the east and the west coast of Scotland. It will allow trains to run from Helensburgh and Milngavie through Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh.