Operation Lifesaver, Metrolinx unveil virtual reality rail safety video

Operation Lifesaver Canada and Metrolinx have unveiled a virtual reality video designed to promote safety around tracks and trains.

Filmed from the point of view of a commuter-rail passenger, the video immerses viewers in a 3D environment and gives them the "unsettling" experience of how quickly and quietly a train can appear, Operation Lifesaver officials said in a press release.

The video is the latest addition to the non-profit organization's "Look. Listen. Live" virtual reality safety campaigned launched in April.

"Our message to rail passengers is simple: Please obey railway warning signs and signals — they're there to keep you safe. Failing to do so could have terrifying — or deadly — consequences," said Sarah Mayes, national director of Operation Lifesaver Canada.

Metrolinx has set up a booth equipped with VR headsets in Toronto's Union Station so that passengers may view the video.