01.05.14
Rail Live 2014
Source: Rail Technology Magazine Apr/May 2014
From 18-19 June, Network Rail is hosting its renamed railway infrastructure showcase – Rail Live 2014. The event,
which was formerly known as the National Track Plant Exhibition, will once again take place at Long Marston in Warwickshire. David Stevenson reports.
As Control Period 5 (CP5) gets under way, and as the entire industry embarks on one of the longest sustained periods of investment the railway has seen since Victorian times, Rail Live 2014 will have a particular focus on safety and delivering value for money through collaborative working.
Last year 219 rail suppliers attended the show, with 175 vehicles of all sizes on display. The weather was glorious and the show was widely judged a big success, as Adam Hewitt’s report on the event in RTM’s Aug/Sept 2013 edition made clear.
It is hoped this year’s exhibition will see the visitor numbers exceed the 4,000 who turned up in 2013.
Steve Featherstone, Network Rail’s programme director for track, the man in charge of Rail Live 2014, told RTM: “Feedback from
those who attended last year’s event was fantastic. This year’s event will be even bigger and even better.
“The event is all about showcasing solutions to the problems that we have on the railway. Hopefully over 5,000 railway colleagues
will attend and will take away some solutions to the problems that they have. If everybody just takes away one new idea we will have added lots of value to the railway.”
During the two-day showcase, there will be a rail and road connected exhibition area demonstrating all aspects of rail infrastructure; live demonstrations of innovative working methods; opportunities to meet customers and suppliers face-to-face; and practical demonstrations of equipment.
Following on from last year’s highly successful Track Renewal demonstration, Network Rail, in collaboration with its suppliers, will
once again highlight its innovative capabilities with regards to track, electrification, signalling and telecoms.
For instance, track will provide visitors with the opportunity to see working and static On-Track Machines (OTMs) and On-Track Plant (OTP), as well as having practical hands-on experience of small plant, tools and equipment amongst a host of other live demonstrations.
Due to the huge focus on electrification, preparations are being made to host a live demonstration of the construction of modern overhead line equipment, from piling to SPS to final registration, staged over the course of the two days.
And, as the name suggests, there will be plenty of live events for visitors to enjoy, from experiencing a level crossing to the installation of a signal foundation. Visitors will also be encouraged to ‘have a go’ and take part in cable terminating; cable running; quality checks; testing; and the installation of line-replaceable units (LRUs).
Once again, due to the fact that there will be live demonstrations, all visitors must attend in full PPE. Admittance to Rail Live 2014
will not be allowed without boots, high-vis trousers and jackets/vests, safety glasses, gloves and hard hats.
Peter Savage, trainer-assessor at Trackwork, said: “If this year’s event is anything like the one in 2013 it will be a not-to-be-missed display. I attended with a group of rail apprentices and found it extremely beneficial for them to see the latest technology and plant being introduced into the industry.”
As well as live demonstrations, Rail Live 2014 will include keynote speeches from transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin MP, and music mogul and railway enthusiast Pete Waterman. There will also be a number of talks on relevant industry topics such as electrification, signalling, track, product acceptance and project updates from Crossrail and HS2.
In the middle of the show, Network Rail is also hosting the World Cup Dinner in Stratford-upon-Avon on the Wednesday evening, where visitors can join colleagues and sports stars for a night of relaxation, networking and entertainment the night before England’s second match of the tournament.
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