31/07/2025
AIVR in Action: Real User Stories from Rail Live 2025

Over a month has passed since Rail Live 2025 (the Glastonbury of Rail) – and we’re still reflecting on what a fantastic event it was! With blazing sunshine and a real sense of energy, this year’s show made for an unforgettable few days.
For the OBC team, Rail Live holds a special place in our journey. It was our first rail event back in 2019, and where we discovered this was an industry we wanted to be part of. Six years later, we’re proud to reflect on how far we’ve come: a large stand, an outstanding team, and countless meaningful conversations.
We were absolutely blown away by the incredible turnout at our stand. From current users sharing their positive experiences with AIVR and offering fantastic suggestions for improvement, to new visitors eager to learn more about our technology, every conversation was insightful. It’s safe to say that we came away with a long checklist of ideas to take forward, plenty of new connections to follow up with, and also a touch of sunburn.
A recurring theme at events like this is just how much people value AIVR in their day-to-day work, though those comments are often made in passing. This year, that changed. It felt important to document these genuine, real-world stories that are often only swapped in demos, meetings, or exhibition floors. So, for Rail Live 2025, some of those moments were captured on camera and in conversation. Here are some highlights from some of them:
Transforming Planning and Safety on Site
Senior Planning Manager at Kier Group, explained how AIVR has become integral to the planning process, removing the need for large site walkouts and supporting safe, rapid decision-making from the office:
“We use the AIVR exports to brief our teams… The information is on our fingertips whenever we want it… it saves so much time and so much money… removes the risk of people out on track… That’s a great benefit for us.”
Engineering Insight, Instantly
Signal Sighting Specialist at Kilborn Consulting highlighted the daily impact AIVR has on meetings, documentation, and responding to technical queries at speed:
“I use the AIVR product to do signal sighting… If someone comes to me [with a problem], I can look at it in ten minutes. It saves a massive amount of money and hassle.”
Streamlining As-Built Validation
Principal Engineering Manager at Amey explained how AIVR accelerates the route validation process and makes searching for OLE structures effortless:
“I use AIVR in order to check for the validation of, as-builts for OLE surveys. We find the route that we are interested in, and we walk through the routes using the cab ride videos in order to check against cross-sections…It’s really useful. It saves time on sites. And it’s quick and easy to use.”
Faster, Safer Project Delivery
At Central Rail Systems Alliance, their Trainee Development Engineer pointed to the inspection tool as a genuine game-changer for track renewals:
“The inspection feature is probably the most useful thing ever… We can look where IBJs are, we can look at sleeper changes, we can look at rail year, which is actually so helpful. So it just speeds up the whole development process of the job… Probably the most used tool that we use now.”
Enhancing Site Familiarisation
Solutions Architect at Siemens, shared how AIVR enhances safety by providing essential site familiarisation for engineers and installation teams:
“We use it as part of our signalling design, and we also use it prior to going to site for site familiarisation. Our installed engineers use it as part of their site briefs to understand the context of the railway before actually going out.”
Better Asset Data Quality
Data Quality Development Manager at Network Rail, spoke about pinpointing asset locations:
“We are using AIVR for data quality improvement. Especially going in and identifying where assets are and their correct positions. We’re finding the detection very useful to be able to jump from one asset to another that we’re looking for.”
Essential First Look for Limited Access
The Route Engineers Team from Network Rail Cardiff explain how AIVR is crucial for planning, and is now their first port of call when real-world access is tricky:
“For areas where we just don’t have the access, it’s critical… we’re using it pretty much all the time… it’s good to get that first look.”
Rapid Access Planning
The Programme Delivery Manager for S&C Track Renewals at Network Rail explained AIVR streamlines PCIP pack creation and access planning:
“Lots of time [saved] especially when trying to find our access points. Normally it could take up to about an hour – but with AIVR, it’s a simple process of typing the mileage ELR, and then it brings up all the access points in the area, whether it’s pedestrian, RRV access.”
Safety and Flexibility for Signal Sighting
Signal Sighting Engineer at Owen Signal Sighting, shares how AIVR is now an essential part of industry practice:
“I can’t do my job without this system… every signal sighting engineer that I’m aware of uses this product on a regular basis. It’s absolutely invaluable… Nowadays we can sit in a nice, safe, comfortable office, review the footage… and carry out a proper assessment in a very safe environment. I don’t think I can quantify the hours saved—would be in the thousands. It’s really, really good.”
Smarter Night-to-Day Briefings
Section Supervisor and Senior Engineer at Network Rail shared how AIVR improves night briefings and lineside inspections:
“I use AIVR daily for methods, RRV method statements, lift plans—just generally to brief the lads on where we’re going to be working, so at night they’ve got daylight visualization.”
“AIVR’s just a key component of our digitize lineside inspection tool, reaping massive safety benefits across the railway. Taking people’s boots off ballast and enabling us to manage our vegetation more effectively digitally.”
Project Context When It’s Needed
Track Director (North West & Central) at Network Rail explained how AIVR gives teams critical visibility before project delivery:
“Even the simplest AIVR video really helps me understand the challenge that lies ahead of us in delivering the work. I can’t get to every site, but it helps me contextualise complexities, and identify any safety risks with the current infrastructure.”
Supporting Accessibility with Tunnel Surveys
National EDI Lead at YRP explained how he uses AIVR to support accessibility for passengers with sensory needs:
“We’ve done I think it’s around over 800 different tunnels, ranging from Cornwall right up to right up to the Highlands. It’s been very worthwhile doing this because it will help passengers who have got a lot of sensory related needs…We include diversionary routes, and then we send it off to the TOCS, and then they can use it in their leaflets. And that will help passengers with being warned about what to expect on their journey.”
Day-to-Day Site Checks and Safety
Assistant Construction Manager at Network Rail talked about how AIVR supports site checks and planning:
“I primarily use AIVR for checking out sites that we’ve got, to see if there’s a safe walking route, any obstructions and what the current conditions are like.”
Boosting Daily Efficiency
Design Engineer with Network Rail shared how AIVR transformed his team’s workflow:
“We use AIVR on a daily basis. It’s really made our job a lot easier…The information is on our fingertips whenever we want it.”
Looking back at Rail Live 2025, it’s remarkable how AIVR continues to evolve alongside its community – changing the way rail professionals everywhere plan, review, and deliver critical work. A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by the stand and shared their experience (especially those who braved the camera), we are extremely grateful.