Over 200 rail industry professionals gathered at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in South Wales last week to witness the unveiling of cutting-edge rail technologies. The event, held on Thursday, 20th March, showcased projects developed through the government-backed Innovation in Railway Construction programme.
The initiative, launched in 2022 and funded by the Department for Business and Trade through Innovate UK, saw twelve teams install their pioneering projects at the GCRE site. The event served as a demonstration of the facility’s potential to become a world-leading hub for rail research, testing, and innovation, supported by both the UK and Welsh Governments.
Attendees were presented with a diverse range of innovations, including self-healing concrete, advanced drone technology, and cost-effective solutions for electrification and signalling.
GCRE Ltd Chief Executive Simon Jones said: “It has been genuinely fantastic for the Global Centre of Rail Excellence to play host to the Innovation in Railway Construction programme over the last two years and to see the twelve teams at the demonstration day that have been funded to bring their ideas to life.
“We’ve seen creativity and ingenuity from teams as they have tackled some of the biggest challenges in rail, giving us a glimpse of what a more sustainable and more affordable rail network looks like.
“What has been unique about this programme has been the ability of the teams to take their technology and demonstrate it to a live industry audience, in real time. That has had an impact already as we know there are teams involved in the programme that have already seen new overseas interest and leads, new contracts and in some cases new investment in their companies.
“That’s exactly what we hoped for and it shows the power of what GCRE can do, as a purpose-built site to support technologically advanced rail innovation and, particularly, the commercialisation of new ideas into new business and export opportunities.
“Through this programme we have shown what GCRE can do on a much bigger scale once the wider infrastructure at GCRE is fully developed.”
Head of Innovation at GCRE Ltd Kelvin Davies said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with teams over the last two years and to help them bring their ideas to life at GCRE. The programme shows the catalytic power of a strong and positive relationship between government, industry and facilities like the Global Centre of Rail Excellence.
“Though this Innovation in Railway Construction programme is coming to an end, we have every expectation that the ideas it has spawned will live on and have a bright commercial future on the mainline railway. But what is equally significant is that it’s given us a great platform to look at other, similar opportunities to host more and bigger initiatives like this at GCRE.”
Head of Rail Supply Chains at the Department for Business and Trade, James Brewer said: “It was incredibly gratifying to see the Innovation in Railway Construction competition bear fruit at the demonstration day and to see such boldness and dynamism in the teams and their projects. In particular it was great to hear the response from the teams themselves and the news that they were already seeing tangible commercial benefits from their involvement.
“That’s exactly the reason why the competition was funded, not only to support the stronger, greener and more affordable rail network we need for tomorrow, but also to help rail and its supply chain maximise its economic potential both domestically and in growing new export markets.
“The Global Centre of Rail Excellence, supported by the Department for Business and Trade, is a great place to do that and a strong platform from which we can work together collaboratively in the future to support further success.”
