Train engineers can now practice brake repairs in virtual reality, not on real trains

US railroad regulators will now let train engineers use virtual reality simulations for their required hands-on brake system training. This means railroads can use randomized scenarios and give real-time feedback that is harder to get with physical training.

For decades, hands-on training for critical tasks like brake system repairs meant working on actual equipment. This change means railroads can now use software to simulate complex, dangerous, or rare scenarios that might be impossible to set up in the real world. It could make training cheaper and more consistent, especially for smaller railroads.