NMBS Nationwide Fire Safety Training

Customized VR fire safety training that equips railway staff with the skills to handle fires and evacuations confidently.

Other cases

OneBonsai delivered a customized VR fire safety training program for NMBS, the national railway corporation of Belgium, simulating railway-specific scenarios like hose operations, low-light fires, and evacuations. The immersive, scalable solution improved staff preparedness and built a stronger safety culture across the national railway.

Challenge

Training Railway Staff in Fire Safety and Evacuation

Solution

Customized VR Fire Safety Training

Approach

Tailored Scenarios with Scalable Deployment

Outcome

Immersive and Relevant Safety Preparedness

Challenge

Training Railway Staff in Fire Safety and Evacuation

With thousands of employees across stations, trains, and facilities, the Belgian National Railway Company (NMBS) needed a reliable way to prepare staff for fire emergencies. Traditional fire training methods, such as classroom instruction or small-scale drills, were too generic and failed to address the specific challenges of railway environments, such as low-light conditions, large fires, and the safe evacuation of passengers. Live fire exercises were logistically difficult, expensive, and unsafe to repeat at scale. This meant many staff members potentially lacked sufficient hands-on experience to react calmly and effectively during real emergencies. NMBS required a customized, scalable solution that would ensure all personnel were trained to the same high standard while remaining safe and cost-effective.

“Our railway staff needed fire training tailored to their specific environment, which existing programs couldn’t provide.”

Solution

Customized VR Fire Safety Training

OneBonsai worked with NMBS to adapt its existing VR Fire Safety Training into a railway-specific version. The solution included tailored features such as fire hose operations, low-visibility evacuation scenarios, and the handling of large-scale fire incidents. Employees were immersed in realistic railway scenarios, where they had to locate hazards, extinguish fires, and follow correct procedures. By simulating these environments, the training gave employees authentic practice that directly reflected their day-to-day responsibilities.

Approach

Tailored Scenarios with Scalable Deployment

The VR training was designed to be portable and easy to deploy, allowing it to be rolled out across the entire national railway network. Instructors could run sessions at multiple sites, training groups of employees efficiently without disrupting operations. Scenarios were created in close collaboration with NMBS safety experts to ensure compliance with internal procedures and regulations. Realistic visuals, sound effects, and interactivity enhanced immersion, while the system’s modular design made it adaptable for future training needs. This approach ensured the training was not only engaging but also highly relevant to the railway context.

“Training in VR is even more realistic than using a staged fire. It allows us to train in a realistic and relevant environment.”

Outcome

The VR fire safety program gave NMBS employees the opportunity to practice fire response and evacuation in a safe yet realistic environment. Staff reported feeling more confident in handling emergencies, while managers observed improved adherence to safety protocols and faster reaction times. The scalable VR deployment meant that large numbers of employees could be trained consistently across the network, helping to establish a strong, unified safety culture. By combining immersion with accessibility, the solution positioned NMBS as a leader in adopting innovative technology to protect both its workforce and passengers.