Virtual Reality Simulations for Effective Fire Safety Training in Passenger Trains

Ensuring safety in railway operations, particularly during fire incidents, is crucial given the unique challenges posed by passenger train layouts. Traditional training methods, while common, often result in unrealistic outcomes and incur high costs. This article proposes a shift towards using virtual reality (VR) serious games as an innovative training tool for railway professionals. To pursue this objective, a Serious Games (SGs) prototype was developed using Unity3D. This approach provides trainees with an immersive platform to interact within a realistic virtual environment, allowing them to practice and refine fire safety procedures tailored to the dynamic and challenging contexts of rolling stock environments. A preliminary prototype was tested with 30 participants, and the initial results demonstrated the simulator's practicality and effectiveness. The findings suggest that VR-based training can significantly enhance fire safety preparedness in the railway industry. The article concludes by advocating for further research and development to fully realize the potential of this cutting-edge training approach.