UK: GB Railfreight is using Apple Vision Pro headsets and spatial computing from JigSpace to provide crew with remote immersive training on the cab layout and key components of its Stadler Class 99 locomotives ahead of their entry into service.
The fully-interactive true-to-scale 360 degree environment enables trainees to complete a virtual walk-around and explore the interior and exterior of a locomotive. This is expected to save £500 000 over two years by reducing the need for travel to the operator’s Peterborough Training School. Future development phases will expand the system to include detailed operational procedures such as train preparation, as well as component-specific training modules.
David Golding, Safety & Sustainability Director at GBRf, said ‘Apple Vision Pro allows our teams to interact with locomotive components from anywhere in the country with unprecedented realism. Not only will it save hundreds of prospective train crew travelling to our HQ in Peterborough, but it also gives them a level of access and detail we’ve never been able to offer before, allowing a deep dive into both the cab and key components.’
James Levin, Sales Director at JigSpace, said the project ‘isn’t about experimentation; it’s about deploying it now in ways that strengthen entire organisations and move industries forward’.
