Simulated Train Market Report 2026

The simulated train market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $4.82 billion in 2025 to $5.65 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of railway infrastructure projects, increasing focus on rail safety training, growth in urban transit systems, adoption of digital simulation tools, rising complexity of rail operations.

The simulated train market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.76 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in smart rail systems, rising demand for cost-effective training solutions, expansion of autonomous and semi-autonomous rail operations, growing adoption of ai-driven simulation analytics, increasing focus on workforce skill development. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of virtual train training platforms, rising use of vr and ar-based simulators, growing demand for scenario-based railway training, expansion of cloud-based simulation solutions, enhanced focus on operator safety training.

The expanding railway infrastructure is expected to drive the growth of the simulated train market going forward. Railway infrastructure includes the physical components and facilities necessary to operate, maintain, and manage rail systems, supporting the efficient and safe movement of passengers and freight. Growth in railway infrastructure is being driven by the demand for sustainable transportation solutions to reduce environmental impact and ease road congestion. Simulated train technology is used within this infrastructure to train personnel, test new signaling systems, and simulate emergency scenarios, enhancing safety and operational efficiency. For instance, in January 2024, according to the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR), a UK-based regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority, total investment in the rail industry reached $12.15 billion (£9.7 billion) for the year ending March 2023, marking a 15% increase from 2022. Therefore, the growth of railway infrastructure is boosting the simulated train market.

Leading companies in the simulated train market are focusing on developing advanced solutions, such as the smart simulator at Rail STM, to meet industry demands. The smart simulator at Rail STM enhances railway training by providing realistic scenarios that improve skills, emergency response, and overall safety. For example, in April 2024, SIM Factor, a Poland-based technology company, launched its SMART simulator at Rail STM, which aims to boost training capabilities for railway personnel. The SMART simulator offers a full cabin experience while being compact and portable, making it suitable for standard-height rooms. It also supports multiplayer training, with the ability to accommodate up to six stations operated from a single instructor station. Designed to meet regulatory standards, the simulator features realistic elements such as a desktop replica of the machine, security systems, and railway radios, ensuring a high-quality training experience. This launch is part of SIM Factor’s ongoing efforts to advance simulation technology in the railway sector.

In April 2023, Focus Entertainment, a French video game developer and publisher, acquired Dovetail Games (DTG) to strengthen its presence in the simulation gaming market, particularly in the train simulation genre. This acquisition aligns with Focus Entertainment's strategy to diversify its lineup and capitalize on the success of simulation games. Dovetail Games is a UK-based developer of simulation entertainment software, including train simulator software.

Major companies operating in the simulated train market report include Thales Group, Alstom SA, Wabtec Corporation, Bombardier Transportation, Saab AB, Indra Sistemas SA, Cubic Corporation, HENSOLDT Simulation Solutions, ENSCO Inc., CORYS, Lander Simulation & Training Solutions, Tecknotrove Systems Pvt Ltd., Simteract S.A., SIM FACTOR, MOSIMTEC LLC, Operation Technology Inc., Real Serious Games Pty Ltd, Sydac Simulation Technologies India Private Limited, Dassault Systèmes, Emerson Electric Co., MSC Software Corporation, SHERPA Engineering, InControl Enterprise, Heartwood Inc.

North America was the largest region in the simulated train market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the simulated train market report include Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the simulated train market report include Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The simulated train market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as training simulators, maintenance simulations, driver experience simulations, and passenger experience simulations. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The simulated train market also includes sales of virtual reality headsets, simulation software packages, controllers, sensors, and training modules that are used in providing immersive training experiences. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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