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7/23/2024
The Short Line Training Center’s online Learning Management System (LMS) has added three new virtual reality (VR) training modules.
The modules cover freight-car familiarization, daily locomotive daily inspections, and Class I airbrake tests and inspections. They are the first use of VR for the LMS, according to an American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) press release.
The Short Line Training Center is a collaborative project created by the ASLRRA and Iowa Northern Railway Co. (IANR) that's funded through a federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement program grant.
Using VR technology in technical training can offer such benefits as enhanced engagement and motivation, improved safety and efficiency, and increased accessibility and scalability, center officials said in a news release.
“The release of these three courses represent a significant achievement for the program and the industry. The ability for short line railroads to economically access this cutting-edge training is ... a game changer for trainees and the railroads,” said Mark Vaughn, IANR's vice president and chief operating officer-transportation, training and safety, and a partner in the development and management of the center.