Requirement

Train manufacturer, Hitachi, won a contract from the Department of Transport {DfT) to supply the new Class 800 train to Great Western Railways (GWR) and London North Eastern Railway (LNER), with an inbuilt training delivery package that enabled all staff to familiarise themselves with the features of the train, pertinent to their jobs.

Hitachi, who design and build state of the art trains for some of the world’s leading Train Operator Companies (TOC’s), wanted their training package to reflect the cutting-edge technology of the Class 800’s, be flexible and easily accessible across multiple devices and operating platforms. Hitachi chose Denova’s innovative approach to simulation to deliver the best solution.

Solution

Denova solution was to develop a ‘Virtual Train’, an exact 3D model of the Class 800 capable of being used in interactive training simulations across multiple devices and operating platforms from smartphone apps to Virtual Reality.

Starting with the specification of the desired learning outcomes for each of the job specific roles Denova developed content templates that accelerated the collection and collation of the TOC’s required training content including tour features and knowledge check quizzes. Each stage of the process was completed in partnership with the Hitachi project team and end users from GWR and LNER.

The target delivery devices were iPads (LNER) and Android tablets (GWR) and iterative app versions were released throughout the build process to ensure that the end product reflected the exact requirement and any changes that were made to the actual train design, which was still evolving during the app development process.

Outcome

The class 800 train discovery apps enabled GWR and LNER to start driver and crew simulated training long before the actual trains arrived. With a focus on simulation for specific job roles the apps accelerated the learning process and have since been repeated for TOC’s including TransPennine Express, LUMO and Avanti West Coast who are also deploying the Class 800 series.

Drivers and onboard staff were able to learn about all the features of the entire train in advance of the train arriving and specifically those pertaining to their jobs. Delivered remotely and as part of classroom training, the Virtual Train remains a valuable training application for new and existing staff, long after the new Class 800’s are in service.

Richard Potter, Project Training Manager at Hitachi said “As part of our contract we had a clear objective from the DfT to deliver eLearning for Class 800 which was accessible across all job functions and third party operators. We felt this was an opportunity to do something different and identified Denova as being able to deliver an innovative solution, which they did. Denova are professional, attentive to detail and easy to work with. We are delighted how the project progressed and with the simulation apps”