Highly successful 'Rail Live 2018' event hosted in Warwickshire
Warwickshire's growing presence in rail technology was underlined at the prestigious Rail Live event, hosted again this year at the Quinton Rail Technology Centre (QRTC) at Long Marston, near Stratford-upon-Avon.
The QRTC is a significant rail test and development centre with a cluster of rail tech companies and Rail Live has become the most comprehensive outdoor event for rail in the UK, with the potential to become the ‘Farnborough Air Show’ for rail.
This year Rail Live 2018 hosted £500m of rail plant and 239 exhibitors, which attracted 5,000 visitors over two days.
Features at the event included:
- Live demonstrations from across the industry of the latest equipment, products and services
- Signalling demonstration zone
- New rolling stock and locomotives on display, with Hitachi, Talgo and Bombardier exhibiting at the event
- An innovation zone, featuring UKRRIN, the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network
- An Export Show for the industry and its supply chain in partnership with the Department for International Trade
- Demonstrators of Warwickshire rolling stock company Viva Rail’s Battery Technology D-Train
- Running prototype of University of Birmingham’s Hydrogen powered train
- A 'Next Generation' project promoting the industry to undergraduate engineers and apprentices
This major showcase of Midlands and UK rail capability drew visitors from all over the UK and overseas, many of whom were potential investors keen to find out more about opportunities in this country.
The UK rail industry is the most buoyant and fastest growing in Europe, with the UK Government investing over £200bn over the next few years in new track, stations, systems and rolling stock. The Midlands is very much a part of that growth and that this event took place in the Midlands gave those visitors a first-hand look at what the area has to offer, both in terms of the rail sector and beyond.
Warwickshire County Council Inward Investment Manager Ian Flynn said: "Rail Live 2018 was a fantastic event.
"It was superbly hosted by the Rail Alliance and new partner Bauer Media. Hosting this event in the Midlands helps demonstrates the strengths of the area as a location for rail supply, technology and inward investment.
"To have so many industry leaders and potential investors visiting the county is of potentially huge benefit to our economy. Thousands of visitors saw at first hand what the region has to offer, both in terms of our excellent rail offer and as a great location to base any business. Many valuable connections were made at the show."