Training locomotive crew is a logistics problem before it's a learning one. For GB Railfreight (GBRf), one of the UK's largest rail freight operators, every new hire had to travel to Peterborough, just to get familiar with a cab layout. For some trainees, this is a long way from home. With a new fleet of Class 99 locomotives entering service, that approach wasn't going to scale.
Spatial computing for real operational training
GBRf moves a quarter of the UK's rail freight and operates one of the most respected safety and training programs in the industry. When they needed a way to prepare crew for the Class 99s before the locomotives arrived on the network, they looked beyond traditional classroom methods.
Through a three-year partnership with JigSpace, GBRf is using Apple Vision Pro to deliver immersive remote training, with the first training modules rolling out to trainees in March 2026. It's among the first deployments of spatial computing for operational rail training in the UK.
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The challenge
GBRf's training pipeline depended on getting people physically in front of a locomotive. Crew members traveled from across the UK to the Peterborough Training School, often multiple times, to learn cab layouts, walk-around procedures, and key component locations. The costs added up fast: travel, accommodation, and time off-network. This process bottleneck only gets worse when new rolling stock enters service.
With the Class 99 fleet on its way, hundreds of crew needed training on an unfamiliar locomotive. Doing that entirely in-person would be slow and expensive.
"Apple Vision Pro allows our teams to interact with locomotive components from anywhere in the country with unprecedented realism. Not only will it save hundreds of prospective train crew travelling to our HQ in Peterborough, but it also gives them a level of access and detail we've never been able to offer before, allowing a deep dive into both the cab and key components."
— David Golding, Safety and Sustainability Director at GB Railfreight
The solution
GB Railfreight worked with JigSpace to build a fully interactive, true-to-scale 360° training environment for the Class 99. Using Apple Vision Pro, trainees can explore the locomotive cab and exterior in immersive detail. They can identify components, learn their functions, and complete a virtual walk-around the Class 99 all without leaving their local depot.
The experience replicates what crew would see and interact with in a real locomotive, but available from anywhere in the UK. Trainees build genuine familiarity with the cab before they ever step into one, arriving at hands-on sessions ready to apply what they've already practiced.
James Levin, Sales Director at JigSpace, adds: "partnering with the world's most innovative operators to bring spatial computing into real operational environments isn't about experimentation; it's about deploying it now in ways that strengthen entire organisations and move industries forward. GBRf is setting a new standard for immersive training, building on its already impressive track record in safety, training excellence and operational standards."
GBRf is setting a new standard for immersive training
— James Levin, Sales Director at JigSpace
The results
The programme will save GBRf over £500,000 in two years by reducing the need for long-distance travel to Peterborough. But the benefits go beyond cost. Crew get earlier, deeper access to the locomotive than traditional training allows — exploring detailed 3D representations of both the cab interior and key external components at their own pace, from anywhere.
The initial rollout covers the Class 99 fleet. Future phases will expand into operational procedures like train preparation and component-specific training modules, building a library of immersive content that grows with the fleet.
"I'm confident that spatial computing marks the beginning of a very exciting partnership with JigSpace."
— David Golding, Safety and Sustainability Director at GB Railfreight
