Northern has released artists’ impressions of how its new train simulators might look.

Six full immersion, motion platform simulators are being supplied by Poland-based firm SIM Factor and are due to be delivered at the end of next year, for use at the operator’s training academies from early 2025. Northern is currently investigating new locations in Leeds and Manchester for its academies that can accommodate simulators of this size.

Northern will use the simulators to train its staff. They will provide a full working cab environment for driver, conductor and other rail apprentices, featuring four hundred miles of real track footage of Northern’s network.

The training academy will also include a passenger cabin simulator, which the operator will use for training operational staff on door operation, dispatch and emergency evacuation. Further training will be provided in four classrooms with a total of twenty-four static replicas of the driver’s cab.

Northern will be the first train operator in the UK to use motion platform simulators and in 2022, was officially recognised by Ofsted as a ‘Main Provider’ of apprenticeships. This status enables the operator to offer its training services to other train operators and rail industry organisations.

SIM Factor is a provider of advanced railway simulators, and has delivered customised training systems to clients in Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and the Baltic countries.

Lisa Leighton, people director at Northern, said: “We have around 3,500 drivers and conductors based across our network and welcome approximately 400 new starters into these crucial roles every year.

“They’re the backbone of our operation and it’s vital we invest in facilities to train them to the highest standard before they enter the real-world environment.

“Northern is widely recognised as an industry leader when it comes to driver and conductor training and the investment in these new simulators will only further strengthen that reputation.”

Michal Wierzbicki, vice president of SIM Factor, said: “We consider the recognition of SIM Factor with such a large project as a special distinction, but above all, as a commitment. After many successes in the European Union, we want to once again surprise the market with the quality and uniqueness of the solutions we will design especially for Northern.”