PM Training and Assessing (AR)
Transforming Railway Engineering Training with Augmented Reality
PM Training and Assessing, the UK’s largest independent Institute of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) assessment centre, identified a need for more immersive and effective training methods for railway engineers. Founded in 2005, they have a strong track record in innovative training solutions and previously collaborated with CEMET to create an award-winning Virtual Reality (VR) scenario for signal engineers. Seeking to further advance their training methods, PM Training and Assessing partnered with CEMET once again to develop an Augmented Reality (AR) platform that could enhance engineers' understanding of complex railway mechanisms.
What Did We Do?
PM Training & Assessing set out to help engineers gain a deeper understanding of complex rail components—such as relays—by visualising how they function internally. Traditional training methods, while effective, lacked the flexibility and interactivity required to truly demystify intricate equipment. CEMET developed an AR framework that allows trainees to interact with highly accurate 3D models of railway components through hand-tracking and gesture-based controls on the Meta Quest 3 headset.
In the application’s first use case, learners are able to inspect and manipulate a 3D relay unit. The experience includes the ability to “peel away” external casings, reveal internal mechanisms, and trigger animations that show how the relay operates—enhancing comprehension while maintaining realism.
How Did We Do It?
Working in Unity, CEMET built a scalable AR framework that supports the delivery of immersive training exercises. Designed for the Meta Quest 3, the system makes use of intuitive hand-tracking interactions—such as picking up, rotating, and zooming objects—and provides a floating 3D checklist interface to guide trainees through real-world procedures.
Behind the scenes, the app was crafted with extensibility in mind. New exercises can be easily created using scriptable assets, requiring minimal technical intervention—empowering PM Training to add to their training catalogue over time. Optimised 3D assets were carefully designed to balance realism and performance, ensuring comfort and clarity for extended training sessions.
By blending physical gestures with digital overlays, the application offers an engaging learning environment where users can explore otherwise inaccessible components, test their understanding, and receive feedback.
The AR platform has revolutionised how PM Training & Assessing delivers training to engineers. It bridges the gap between textbook learning and real-world scenarios, offering trainees a tactile and spatial understanding of how systems operate. The flexibility of the framework means that additional components and exercises can be added quickly, making it future-proof and cost-effective.
By reducing reliance on expensive physical components and enabling engineers to practise in a virtual environment, the solution also opens new doors for scalable, remote, and inclusive training opportunities. The project highlights how augmented reality can modernise training in industries where precision, safety, and deep technical understanding are essential.
“CEMET has been fantastic all the way through, so supportive and brilliant.
They got on board with the technical side from the start, understood how it needed to work, and ensured that the VR showed all it needed to show, and to be as hard-hitting as possible at the end. What they produced was incredible.”
CEMET is proud to continue its collaboration with PM Training & Assessing as they lead the way in immersive railway engineering education.
CEMET is proud to continue to support PM Training and Assessing throughout the development of this project. To find out more about their latest work visit their website or follow them via LinkedIn or Facebook.
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by Powys County Council.