Higlights of the 11th Railway Talk on Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
UEEIV Webinar | 9 December 2025
On 9 December 2025, the Union of European Railway Engineer Associations (UEEIV) hosted the 11th Railway Talk webinar, bringing together railway professionals from across Europe to discuss how Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming railway operations.
Moderated by Marco Corradini (EURAIL Ing.), the webinar featured two complementary presentations that combined practical experience with broader reflections on digital transformation in the rail sector.
From Innovation to Practice
In the first presentation, Dr. Eng. Luca Gioiello (Mercitalia Rail / University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”) illustrated how VR, AR and AI are already being applied in day-to-day railway activities. VR is increasingly used for immersive and safe training, AR supports frontline staff with real-time operational guidance, and AI enables predictive maintenance and advanced defect detection. A key message was that technology should support, not replace, human expertise, within a strong safety and Just Culture framework.
Technology and Transformation
The second presentation, by Markus Bolli (Suprexa AG, Switzerland), took a broader perspective, questioning whether VR and AI are a curse or a blessing. He highlighted the growing gap between rapid technological development and slower organisational adaptation, stressing the need for systemic, end-to-end approaches and open data ecosystems to fully unlock the potential of new technologies.
Key Takeaway
The 11th Railway Talk confirmed that digital technologies are becoming essential for safer, more efficient and resilient railways. However, their success ultimately depends on people, culture and collaboration as much as on the technologies themselves.
Download the presentations and view the video
The speakers’ presentations are available in the event archive, so participants can dive deeper into the technical solutions and case studies shared during the session.