PM Training teach signal engineering for the UK rail industry. They had a VR application for points and signals that needed reworking before it could be used with trainees.
Training on points and signal systems is fundamental to the safe and reliable operation of train travel. PM Training's existing VR application had the right ambition, but contained a number of bugs, inconsistencies, and visual shortcomings that prevented it from being used as a reliable tool with trainees. On top of fixing these issues, they also needed an additional sequence added to the experience, a train movement scene that would demonstrate the responsiveness of the track to the signaller's actions, bringing the consequences of the training to life in a meaningful way.
We began by getting under the bonnet of the existing project, working through the codebase to identify, rework, and optimise the logic that was causing issues. Alongside this technical groundwork, we improved the visual fidelity of the environment, upgrading lighting and in-game assets to create a more realistic and convincing railway setting, and refined the user interface to make the experience clearer and more intuitive for trainees.
Crucially, we worked closely with the PM Training team throughout the project to develop a thorough understanding of rail industry terminology and signalling procedures. Getting this right was essential, the training needed to be accurate and true to life, not just visually convincing. The new train sequence was then built and integrated into the experience, showing the track responding correctly to signaller inputs and reinforcing the cause-and-effect relationships at the heart of the training.
The delivered application gives PM Training a consistent, scalable tool for safety-critical education, one that immerses trainees in realistic railway scenarios without putting anyone in physical danger. By simulating the real consequences of signalling decisions, the experience creates a level of engagement and retention that classroom-based training simply can't replicate.
The VR format also brings practical benefits: training sessions can be delivered consistently across the organisation, without the ongoing cost of hiring external trainers or covering travel expenses every time. It's a clear example of how immersive technology, when built to genuine industry standards, can transform the way safety-critical knowledge is passed on.
Seeing what happens when a step goes wrong.
Breaking the routine of work done every day.
Not skipping steps, and speaking up for others.
The three outcomes PM Training set for the simulation.
"I didn't think you could use VR for signal engineering. You have proved me wrong!"
Thirty minutes with us. We will tell you honestly whether VR is the right tool, what it would cost and how long it would take.
