Testing Rail Innovation with Heritage Partners

Date/Time
Date(s) - March 12 2025
11:00am - 3:00pm

Location
Great Central Railway, Loughborough

Following on from our previous innovation activities in November – the most excellent visit to Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation facility, and the online Innovating Rail through International Collaboration, we are delighted to introduce our next edition – Testing rail innovation with heritage partners and where better to host but the fabulous Great Central Railway in Loughborough. 

This continues the discussions from Long Marston, with a focus on how the many heritage locations can be applied as economical and initial testing locations, often to validate concepts, and can be particularly helpful with infrastructure developments. 

Our speakers supporting this lunchtime networking event will provide excellent discussions around the topic of innovation: 

• Ian Evley, InnovateUK – readying for demonstrators 

• Daisy Chapman-Chamberlain, Transport for the North – how can you innovate northern transport projects 

• Dave Gent, ECSL – taking scanning technology from heritage to mainline 

• Joanna White, National Highways – what’s happening in highways innovation 

• Paul Corcoran, Rail Supply Group – Introducing the Innovation Charter 

• Jeremy Allen, Connected Places Catapult – Working with Network Rail through Connected Places Catapult 

• Russell Bradley, Great Central Railway – How GCR can test your innovation 

The event will conclude with a tour of the Great Central Railway network. 

 Who should attend?   

This event is perfect for anyone currently developing ideas and innovations for the rail sector and would like to explore that critical phase of testing and demonstrating.  Equally useful for any organisations seeking innovation to support their activities and solve challenges. 

Eligibility  

This is a member-only event.  Strictly 1 place per member company. 

 Registration Deadline  

Bookings will close on 26th February 2025, or sooner if the event is fully booked.  Joining instructions will be issued 6th March 2025.