Engineering Focus

Rail Live is billed as " one of the largest outdoor rail exhibitions in Europe. Based in the Rail Live offers companies the unique opportunity to showcase products and services in a real rail setting ". And it certainly doesn't disappoint, with over 300 exhibitors spread over a 120 acre site. With so many exhibitors it could be easy to get overwhelmed if you're not sure what you're looking for and with the sweltering heat of the day exploring the event wasn't easy. All I knew was I wanted to find the new, unusual and the impressive. First stop though ( for a good 10 minutes ) was RVT Group 's stand, talking to one of their representatives was a perfect excuse to cool off in front of one of the powerful fans that they had switched on. A perfect demonstration of how powerful and effective the ventilation systems they provide are. After cooling off I didn't have to travel far to find "the impressive". Sonic Rail Services  certainl

My journey to RailLive this year started at 6:15am, took 4 hours and involved 4 changes of train just to get to small village called Honeybourne in Worcestershire, from there I would would catch the prototype D-train to RailLive. It was a long journey but ultimately worthwhile as I would be among the first passengers to ride VivaRail's prototype train. D-Train waiting at a temporary platform built especially for RailLive at Honeybourne station.  (click to enlarge) Background The D-Train or class 230 was the brainchild of Adrian Shooter who saw an opportunity to use rolling stock that was coming out of service and would have eventually been scrapped and instead give the stock a new lease of life, whilst at the same time providing much needed DMU (diesel multiple unit) rolling stock which the UK rail network is desperately short of. In November 2014 Vivarail chaired by Mr Shooter purchased 150 driving motor cars and 300 carriages of London underground D78 stock which h