Rail Minister Lord Hendy has officially opened the UK’s first electrified railway testing loop at Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre in Warwickshire.
The new 3.5-kilometre track was inaugurated during a ceremony attended by representatives from across the rail industry.
The testing loop forms part of a wider redevelopment of the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre. Porterbrook has invested more than 75 million GBP in the 135-acre facility, which is designed to support the testing, development and demonstration of railway technologies and rolling stock.
Speaking at the event, Lord Hendy said the facility would help support the development of future rail vehicles in Britain and contribute to ongoing efforts to modernise the railway network.
The Rail Minister, Peter, Lord Hendy, said:The Rail Innovation Centre at Long Marston is a brilliant initiative which will support the next generation of trains in Britain.
It was an honour to launch the centre’s new testing loop today and as a passenger, I look forward to travelling on the trains that have benefitted from being tested at the site.
This kind of innovation is exactly what we want to see as we move towards Great British Railways so we can build a railway fit for the future which the public can rely on, and be proud of.
Porterbrook has invested more than 1 billion GBP over the past five years in areas including new trains, fleet modernisation, traction technology and rail infrastructure. This includes more than 14 million GBP towards the development and testing of HydroFLEX, a hydrogen-powered passenger train project.
The company has also expanded its involvement in the rail supply chain through the acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in Scottish engineering firm Brodie Engineering.
Alongside the opening of the testing loop, Porterbrook unveiled updated corporate branding. The company said the rebrand reflects its continued focus on partnership working across the rail industry.
The Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre will continue to provide a dedicated environment for testing rail vehicles and emerging technologies, supporting future developments in the UK rail sector.
Porterbrook CEO, Mary Grant, said:Long Marston is for the benefit of the whole industry. A site tailor-made for innovation that demonstrates how private capital can work hand-in-hand with Great British Railways to deliver an exceptional service to the travelling public.
We’re making clear, long-term commitments to UK rail, not just as a financier, but as a genuine partner adding value now and for the future.
