Simulators: rethinking staff training
Simulators are no longer solely the preserve of driver training, says Network Rail’s Justin Willett.
Most of us have had a go in a driving simulator—and they truly are brilliant. Even in times past, given the available technology, they were remarkable examples of innovation.
In the 1960s, a cab environment was used, featuring cine film played onto a ‘windscreen’ and hydraulics to provide a full ride experience. You could actually feel the acceleration and deceleration of your ‘train’.
Now, while the motion element has gone, new technology enables all kinds of routes, scenarios, and conditions to be run, to test the driver against a range of circumstances. But these days, drivers aren’t the only rail workers who use simulators to help with their training.
Alongside driving cabs, we have had signalling simulators—from lever frames, NX panels to VDU workstations—that have helped deliver initial and local training for signallers for more than 15 years.
As technology has improved, their capabilities have increased. There is now a requirement for signallers training for Grade 6 and above locations to have ‘Advanced Signaller Training’, using simulators.
The top photo shows the absolute block simulator, complete with lever frame, which Network Rail uses at Newton Grange. The bottom photo shows the CCTV crossing simulator used on the Wessex Route. This is helping combat the decision-based errors we see in the control logs, where pedestrians become trapped between closed barriers or gates.
Those responding to incidents and events on our railway, such as mobile operations managers and station incident officers, can now benefit from simulators. Even some of our new controllers are using immersive screens to help them learn how to deal with a range of incident types.
There are now 21 immersive virtual systems across the country and three more being developed.
Simulators and simulation are becoming a particular feature of our ops Development days. No longer just about signallers, we are now rolling them out much further. They say forewarned is forearmed. Simulation helps with that in a safe, controlled environment.
Main image: Simulation in Basingstoke. Credit: Network Rail