Arriva Trains Wales has modified a virtual reality platform which it uses for its staff training to help passengers with an Autism Spectrum Disorder on Public Transport.

This is hoped it will help them to become more independent.

Three Vocational Access students from Coleg Ceredigion, in Aberystwyth, Wales, got their hands on the virtual reality simulator first at Arriva’s Training Centre in Chester.

They got to experience what it is like to visit a train station from a safe environment.

The simulator offers them the chance to prepare for the task of catching a train. This will help boost their confidence and also to help encourage them to consider train travel in the future.

This is the first time a Train Operating Company (TOC) has offered this technology to passengers.

What did the officials say about the Virtual Reality platform?

Coleg Ceredigion Course Leader

Coleg Ceredigion course leader Maggie Neville said, “We’ve been working with Arriva for several years now and have seen the relationship go from strength to strength in that time. One of their outreach officers used to hold sessions for our students, which all the participants found very useful and encouraged some of them to go out and travel on the Cambrian Line. When the Orange Wallet scheme was introduced it made a huge positive difference for our students, and other members of the community, but we were keen to see if there was more which could be done to support people.

“I heard about the virtual reality simulator and thought that it could be a great way for the students to experience what it’s like to visit a station, without being too overwhelmed. The first visit went very well and now we plan to keep working together to develop the training sessions and adapt the simulator further. Working with Arriva has been amazing. They do anything they can to support the students and put them at ease. One woman was so terrified of trains that she wouldn’t even get on one, but after her session with Arriva, she has been able to travel on a train for the first time. That’s a huge step forward, it’s truly life-changing for her.”

Commercial Training Manager

Arriva Trains Wales, Commercial Training Manager Nicola Wilkinson, added: “Maggie visited our Training Centre a few months ago to have a look at our virtual reality simulator in the hope that we could create a session for some of her autistic students. I thought we could use the simulator to allow the students to get used to the sounds and features that they may experience around a ‘typical’ station, to prepare them for a real journey.

“We started with the students choosing an emoji to describe how they currently felt about travelling by train and then introduced them to the simulator. As they ‘walked’ around the virtual reality station I explained what to look out for to help them travel, including the information screens, lift, station staff and conductor. We also discussed what to do if something changed, such as a platform alteration or train delay. They picked out another emoji to let me know how they felt about travelling by train at the end of the session, and it was great to see that all of them felt happier about it. One of the students had even changed from being scared to looking forward to making a journey on the train.

“In future, we would like to follow up the simulator session with a tour of an actual station to allow them to practice everything they have learned. We really want to do everything we can to help our passengers feel at ease and be able to make their first journey independently on the train. It’s a huge step for some people.”

• Visit the Arriva Trains Wales Website
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