Virtual Reality and real time monitoring by sensors built into HS2's infrastructure including rails, bridges and overhead power lines will help make Britain's new high speed rail network one of the world’s most reliable railways.

Detailed designs being prepared by engineers working on Britain’s new highspeed rail network are being developed using advanced computer design programmes. The data produced will both inform construction of HS2 and build the railway’s digital twin, a virtual reality 3D replica that will be as detailed as the real thing.

During HS2's construction thousands of remote condition monitoring sensors, similar to those used in Formula One and aviation, will be built into the physical line’s infrastructure as if it were the railway's version of the body's nervous system. These sensors will monitor performance of the railway’s assets and components to predict and prevent failure, helping to underpin the line's reliability and ultimately the punctuality of its passenger services.

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Taking live information on the health of its infrastructure from thousands of sensors across the route and building it into HS2’s digital twin has created Britain’s new high speed rail network in complete virtual form.

The data that sensors on board the high speed trains collect will be transmitted directly to HS2’s Birmingham-based Network Integrated Control Centre (NICC) at Washwood Heath.

Engineers and maintenance teams will analyse data with the use of Artificial Intelligence to monitor asset performance trends across the network. A downward trend in asset performance will trigger HS2’s predict-and-prevent maintenance programme.

However before going out on site engineers will use virtual reality headsets to investigate issues from the safety of the NICC. The technology will enable maintenance teams to understand issues and in some cases resolve them without even having to physically go out on location.