HS2 Line Using VR Technology

VR is being used across industrial enterprises: onboarding, training, customer support, operations, and more. 

The HS2, Britain’s in-the-works high-speed rail network, has a VR digital twin (yup, another digital twin!) that uses sensors built into the line’s rails, bridges, and overhead power lines.

From Railway Adventures

The new network is expected to be one of the world’s most reliable railways, with optimized predictive maintenance, early notifications of defects, and real-time operation status. 

The digital twin can be viewed in 3D VR, and before engineers go on-site to investigate issues, they will use virtual reality headsets to investigate from the safety of the HS2’s Network Integrated Control Centre (NICC). (It’s British, so it’s centre, not center. In fact, you can read this whole article in a British accent if you want.)

With VR being such an important tool in the new line, it makes sense that VR will also be used in training. HS2 leaders said they plan to create new VR/AR tools to maintain and enhance the skills of both maintenance and station teams.

The VR train has left the station…and now it’s all throughout the line.