FROM lineside semaphores to the latest 140mph in-cab signalling – that’s the scope of driver training covered by Southeastern’s £1 million state-of-the-art simulator at its Ashford, Kent, Learning and Development Centre.

From later this month it will be playing a key role in training 120 of the company’s drivers based at Ramsgate, Ashford and Faversham.

Late next year the drivers will exchange the controls of Electrostars and Networkers for the driving cab of the new Class 395 Hitachi-built trains on classic south-eastern routes.

They will face a variety of train control systems, from traditional mechanical signalling to cab-signalling on HS1 when the sleek new trains go into service from Kent to St Pancras International from December 2009.

And that is where the new simulator comes in.

Situated close to the depot where Hitachi will maintain the Class 395 fleet, the simulator, which was designed and built by Corys Training Engineering Support System, creates a full, computer-controlled spectrum of routes, instantly changing weather conditions and operating scenarios at the touch of a button.

In sharp contrast to the new systems, pockets of semaphore signalling remain in the Canterbury area through which they will run, so these are faithfully replicated by the simulator.  So too is the highly recognisable scenery with features such as Dover Priory station and the cliff run beside the sea through Folkestone Warren – a world away from HS1 sequences.

Southeastern driver manager Malcolm Bushell, who has been closely involved in the Class 395 training programme and helped ‘road test’ the first four units now at Ashford, said: “Although fully qualified, our drivers have yet to experience the higher acceleration possible with ac overhead power supplies, a central driving position and in-cab signalling, so simulator training will be invaluable to them before getting the trains on to the line.

 “Our drivers are aged from 22 upwards and all are eagerly looking forward to the new challenges of high-speed driving,” said Malcolm.

- There is a separate simulator for training drivers on Electrostars.