11th Railway Talk
9 December 2025VR, AR and AI in railway operations
11th RAILWAY TALK
9 December 2025
17:00 CET
Next stop: technology on track
Exploring VR, AR and AI in railway operations
Programme:
Presentations & Speakers:
Chair: Dipl. Ing. Marco Corradini, EURAIL Ing
FIRST PRESENTATION
Exploring VR, AR and AI in railway operations
Dr. Eng. Luca Gioiello
Safety Engineer
Working at Mercitalia Rail Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane
PhD Student at Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”
The session aims to provide a practical perspective on how emerging technologies are being adopted in the railway sector, with a particular focus on operational applications. Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be explored as tools that can support process optimization, improve decision-making, and, above all, strengthen safety in daily railway operations.
VR enables immersive training programs, where staff can repeatedly practice high-risk scenarios—such as signaling malfunctions or rolling stock anomalies—within a safe and controlled environment.
AR brings information directly to frontline workers, offering real-time diagnostic support and visual guidance that help reduce human error and increase efficiency.
AI, on the other hand, provides powerful capabilities for defect recognition on infrastructure and rolling stock, enhancing inspections, predictive maintenance, and monitoring activities.
Yet, technology alone is not enough. Railway operations are, and will remain, a human-centered environment. This is why the concept of safety culture—and, more specifically, Just Culture—is crucial. Building a culture where people feel empowered to learn from mistakes, share responsibility, and embrace innovation is the foundation for making digital transformation truly effective. In this sense, technology should not be seen as replacing human expertise, but rather as an ally that supports people in working more safely, more confidently, and more collaboratively.