No Passport Needed! This ‘Virtual Train’ In Australia Gives Seniors A Chance To Travel The World

At St Vincent’s Care, Toowoomba, Australia, residents are boarding a ‘virtual train’ to travel around the world. The not-for-profit aged care has built the first permanent virtual reality travel experience that takes you around the world without you actually moving. Read on to know more about this immersive travel experience.

Residents Board The St Vincent’s Express

As per a report by News18, a unique setup called the ‘St Vincent’s Express’ at St Vincent’s Care in Toowoomba is changing how older residents experience the world. Built like a fine-dining train setup, the space uses large digital windows, virtual reality, and surround sound to showcase travel across 10 countries. The experience features scenic landscapes and ambient sounds while you just sit back and relax. There is even an AI-powered guide, and train announcements in five different languages add a touch of reality.

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Speaking to the Australian Ageing Agenda, co-founder Che Turner of the Olive Express revealed that the journey is much more than just visuals. Here, they serve theme-based food that aligns with the destination. For instance, eating Swiss chocolates while on a virtual tour of Switzerland. The train experience was originally built with the idea of providing elder residents the opportunity to travel or visit their homelands and be guided through the experience in their own language. The best part of the experience? Chairs can be replaced and tables folded down to create space for daybeds.

The Vision Behind ‘Virtual Train’

As per a report by AAA, residents who have participated in the journey have described the experience as a joyous escape. St Vincent’s Toowoomba residential care services manager, Elzette Lategan, brought the idea to life with her desire to create something innovative and fun. She informed the portal that everyone enjoys travelling, and many of the elderly people would want to travel overseas, but it’s just not possible, so she thought, ‘Why not bring the travel and the world to them?’

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We feel the virtual train is just a lovely initiative for the elderly people who wish to travel the world. What are your thoughts on this virtual train? Let us know in the comments.