SCT Sector Focus: Workforce Dynamics are Primarily Driving the Demand for Ground Transport Training Systems
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An intriguing set of developments are shaping the training enterprises in the commercial ground transportation driving market.
The private- and public sector operators of rail lines, busses and trucks have an interesting blend of requirements to which S&T materiel and services’ providers are responding. At the same time, there is a strong degree of “cross pollination,” where many of the technology underpinnings fielded to this sector’s learning organizations are similar to those in other safety critical industries, and in the military and commercial aviation communities.
This is another in a series of surveys of trends, developments and challenges in safety critical industries. Insights for this article were gained from three companies in this industry segment.
Safety and a Workforce Focus
Simulation and training industry companies are meeting unique demand signals from transportation operators, government organizations and other stakeholders.
While operators across the ground transportation sector continue to strive for safety, there is an increased emphasis on workforce training – including the powerful notion of learning throughout an employee’s career.
In a case of exquisite timing, Northern’s recent press release reported the company took delivery of a prototype of the semi-immersive static cab simulator that new drivers will soon use. The train operator has ordered 24 of the static cab replicas from Sim Factor which feature video footage of 610 mi. (967 km.) of real track of Northern routes across the North of England. More on Sim Factor later in this article.
Of additional significance, the press release noted the S&T investment “is part of a major transformation in the way that Northern trains its traincrew and will speed up the time it takes for crew to achieve their train and route competence.” Lisa Leighton, people director at Northern, said, “We have over 3,400 drivers and conductors based across our network and it’s important each and every one of them has the skills and knowledge to perform at their best,” and added, “This includes ensuring they have access to great training and development facilities - not just during their induction and initial training – but throughout their time with Northern.”
Other unique market forces, including the introduction of new vehicle types, are encouraging private- and public sector operators to more fully embrace S&T for their workforces.
First up – one industry team’s activities to support the truck industry.
Conforming with Government Regulations
Dawid Dobies, Business Development Manager at Poland-based Motion Systems, initially told SCT, that for one customer segment, truck transportation driver training, the simulator requirements are primarily shaped by overarching guidance in his home nation government’s regulations outlined in the official act Dziennik Ustaw 2021, poz. 65. These provisions include: precise replication of vehicle control systems, including steering, braking, and transmission; advanced visualization systems to simulate realistic driving conditions; and integration with motion platforms to provide a full-scale experience that mimics real-world driving dynamics. Of no surprise, the company executive added, “Our TS-10 simulator has been specifically designed to meet these regulatory requirements.”
Motion Systems’ TS-10 simulators have been delivered to a diverse mix of customers including: driving schools across Poland; automotive technical schools; and specialized training facilities.
“In addition, others partners’ simulators have been developed for niche applications such as ambulance or IFV based on the PS-6TM-1500 motion platform,” Dobies noted.
The company provides the motion platform and truck cabin structure of the TS-10. In 2024, Motion Systems signed a partnership with Autocomp Management from Poland, to bring a new quality to the simulation market. The executive added, “For customized projects, such as mobile simulator versions, we collaborate with partners depending on client requirements.”
Earlier on, the author mentioned cross-pollination, where common learning technology-enablers are found in different sectors’ training programs. This is a perfect point to note Motion Systems is representative of a company that supplies common training devices and underpinning content in, and beyond, one sector.
A more detailed look at the TS-10 first reveals the training device uses Motion Systems’ PS-6TM-1500 motion platform to deliver precise and dynamic motion feedback. “The simulator employs rear-projection technology to create an immersive training environment,” Dobies continued and added, “Essential truck components, including the gearbox, brakes, and dashboard controls, are accurately replicated and simulated. As for 2025, the TS-10 simulator developed in cooperation with Autocomp Management will remain a key offering in our portfolio. We are seeing significant interest from the market, with numerous inquiries already for this year, with our expectation of also delivering this product to several clients with potential enhancements driven by client requirements.”
The Rail Community’s Training Journey
Keith Wakeford, the UK-based sales manager for Sim Factor, told SCT the primary focal points the Poland-based company responds to in this market were safety and meeting training schedules. The S&T expert provided his insights from the perspective of his company’s rapidly expanding customer roster: Northern Trains Ltd (included under the Northern corporate label above); DB Cargo (Polska); CD Cargo; Škoda; Stadler; The office of Rail Transport (UTK) – Poland’s regulatory authority which conducts exams for licenses and mandatory training for active drivers using Sim Factor simulators; and various driver training colleges across Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.
Wakeford initially pointed out the company’s customers must train large cohorts, with rail operators facing the challenge of training a significant number of new drivers and conductors annually, as noted earlier with the Northern customer. He emphasized both full-motion and static-replica simulators play a vital role in delivering practical, immersive training in a controlled, safe environment.
And S&T community managers and end-users in adjacent sectors will recognize other requirements for learning technology-enabled training observed in the rail industry. The executive’s short list included: minimizing reliance on real rolling stock; preparing for operational emergencies; addressing specific malfunction; simulating diverse conditions; achieving cost efficiency; and seeking ROIs for ICTF (Integrated Crew Training Facility), to include conductor training.
Wakeford presented a number of advantages that simulation as offered Sim Factor provides to the rail-sector customer:
- Time and cost efficiency: Eliminates the need for travel between stations to practice basic door operations. Thus, Sim Factor simulators reduce overhead costs for operators associated with crew training which is already demonstrated and proven by a number of customers;
- Standardized training quality: Training is consistent and unaffected by real-life service conditions;
- Enhanced trainee experience: Increased simulator availability ensures trainees can achieve a higher baseline level of experience;
- Emergency preparedness: Simulators enable training for rare or emergency scenarios, as well as specific train faults. These emergencies can’t be easily replicated during training in real-life environments (e.g. fog, heavy snow, vehicle collisions, others.);
- Higher success rates: Improved confidence and competency among trainees lead to higher pass rates. This is demonstrated by data and experience from various simulator users (e.g. in Poland);
- Reduced training duration: Training sessions are more time-efficient;
- Trainer control: Trainers can pause, stop, replay, and review scenarios—something impossible during live service operations. This allows the instructor to test and train a candidate or driver’s reaction to unpredictable events;
- Increased trainee confidence: Simulators create a risk-free environment for trainees to gain confidence in their abilities; and
- Tailored to modern needs and expectations, Sim Factor simulators are ready to attract and train next-generations of train drivers who have grown up in a digitally-enhanced environment and are accustomed to realistic, graphic design, e.g. in gaming.
Technology Foundations
Sim Factor has developed a database containing over 10,000 km of photorealistic CGI railway routes across Europe, including approximately 650 km in the UK.
Wakeford noted while these routes are not technically digital twins, they provide highly realistic and immersive environments. “With detailed modelling extending several kilometers beyond the railway tracks, trainees experience no ‘edge of the world’ effect. These routes are designed to maintain trainee focus and allow them to recognize their surroundings at any point during the simulated journey.”
Sim Factor has invested significantly in proprietary content creation software tailored to long-distance railway modelling and operations. This software ingests high-resolution, geo-referenced imagery and elevation models, automatically generating tracks and infrastructure—including signals, signage, overhead electrification, buildings, and vegetation. A team of in-house artists ensures accuracy using side-by-side video comparisons during development.
The executive concluded, “Final models are rendered using a customized gaming engine on high-performance gaming PCs equipped with the latest graphics cards. The content is displayed on professional-grade 4K monitors for optimal visual fidelity. This display is seamless thanks to Sim Factor’s integration of hardware and software.”
Upping the Training Game for Bus Operators
Huge changes are also occurring in the bus transportation training market.
At the overarching level, Jason Francisco, Transportation Business Manager at FAAC Incorporated, spoke to the eclectic and diverse requirements to which his team is responding. “Our customers’ requirements center around operator de-escalation training, battery electric bus familiarization, and digital twins of high-risk areas on their respective routes.”
The company executive provided his insights to SCT based on the FAAC MB 1000 and -2000 series simulators which are finding favor among an increasing number of customers. A short list of the end users of these simulators includes: Santa Clara VTA, Jacksonville Transit Authority, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), New York City MTA, and Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC).
Of interest from a business model perspective, FAAC oversees its hardware and software solutions in-house. The executive added, “The system requirements change the motion profile without having one predominant vendor. We use commercial-grade visual displays for our flat panel system deliveries.” One technology underpinning Spohn highlighted was the company’s patented Virtual Instructor Assessment and Learning System (VITALS), used for driver performance and data analysis. “This is a standard feature for all our bus simulators.”
Looking to the remainder of 2025, the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based executive said FAAC wants to continue providing the most complete solution for bus operator training. “Our MB1000 and MB2000 are very well received, and we must ensure our customers are prepared to use these tools. We are hopeful we can announce a few pending awards in the near future.”
[Editor’s note: a video of a scenario with the FAAC MB2000 may be viewed below.]
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