Network Rail – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

Following on from our Life In 360° entry on Wednesday we’re continuing to look at a series of safety videos that have been produced on behalf of Network Rail – which is in charge of the looking after most of the infrastructure that makes up the railway network across the UK (sans Northern Ireland).

The videos are part of an £100 million (GBP) drive by Network Rail in order to improve the safety of level crossings throughout the country. It’s a necessity in part due to the history of the railway itself.

“There are around 6,000 level crossings in Britain – a legacy of a railway built 150 years ago when there were fewer and slower trains, and no cars on the road.” Explains Network Rail on their campaign portal. “We have a national safety awareness and improvements programme investing in closing and upgrading level crossings, alongside a safety awareness campaign aimed at specific user groups. Every day level crossings protect us from harm when crossing one of the busiest rail networks in the world. If Britain was building the railway now, we wouldn’t have any level crossings.”

“We’ve closed over 1,000 crossings successfully in the past seven years. We’ve also developed new technology to help people use level crossings safely. How users decide whether it’s safe to cross is critical, so we also run campaigns to improve understanding and encourage safe use.”

As with those on Wednesday, please be aware that the videos do contain some content people may find distressing.

Episode 4 – Impatience

Gated crossings are there for some farm vehicles, and they do mean you have to check whether or not it is safe – but if they’re not, they’re not.

Episode 5 – Worth The Risk

If you’re driving a car and try and ‘nip across’ a crossing before the train comes as you think you’ve got the time, you’re gambling your life and the lives of those with you.

Episode 6 – Keep A Clear Head

Keeping a night out going doesn’t mean you need to start taking risks with your life over it.

Episode 7 – Take A Hike

It’s not just those in towns and villages that need to be wary of their surroundings, ramblers do as well.

VRFocus will be back next week with more examples of people and companies using 360 degree video. Have a good, and safe, weekend.

Now it’s likely, considering the hour that Li360 goes out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, that a number of you reading this will have already completed your morning commute into work and for you the day is just getting started. Well, prepare for more of the same as we’re talking travel on Wednesday’s Life in 360°. More specifically we’re covering rail travel.

Rail travel itself is pretty safe in general, but when it comes to people outside the train a lack of attention could prove fatal. Especially if you’ve got to cross the line at a crossing. As part of a series on railway safety the UK’s Network Rail has created several 360 degree videos featuring CG characters getting into all sorts of danger.

Actually, all of them come with a warning that some viewers may find the content upsetting.

“We’re doing all we can to keep people safe near level crossings and on the railway in general. These short films illustrate some of the dangers of not taking care at level crossings and trespassing on the railway.” Explains Network Rail, “We’re working closely with the British Transport Police and train operators to reduce incidents across the network, using covert surveillance to catch offenders and visiting schools to warn children of the dangers at level crossings and going on the railway. We can’t tackle this issue alone. We’re urging parents and young people to take a reality check when it comes to level crossings and trespass. It’s not a game: they are real tracks, with real trains and real life-changing consequences.”

We’re going to feature a few videos from the series today.

Episode 1 – Dogs Will Be Dogs
It’s not just humans that need to wary of railway lines, pet owners need to be wary too.

Episode 2 – No Going Back
Continuing the story, it might be painful to go back to the scene of an incident. Some will feel they need to in order to hunt for something. You’re just walking back into the same danger.

Episode 3 – Dare!
Sometimes bravado can lead to your downfall, and on a railway line that comes hand-in-hand with death or injury.

You can find out more about Network Rail’s the level crossing safety campaigns here. We’ll be finishing this series of videos Friday on VRFocus.

Category: Network Rail

Life In 360°: Level Headed (Part Two)

Life in 360°: Level Headed