Feature Exhibition Preview On track for Railtex 2013
More than 400 suppliers of railway products and services will be taking part in Railtex 2013 at Earls Court in London from 30th April to 2nd May. Electrical Engineering magazine takes a closer look at what’s on offer
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ell established as the UK rail industry’s leading event, Railtex combines exhibitors’ stands and equipment dis- plays showcasing the latest market innovations with a wide range of addi- tional features providing visitors with insights into developments in technol- ogy and trends in policy.
Held every two years, this year’s show will be the 11th, and it coincides with an upbeat mood in an industry optimistic about its future prospects. Strong government support for the development of Britain’s rail system is leading to unprecedented levels of investment, intensifying interest in the market by the supply industry. Behind this support is a continuing increase in the number of passengers using the national network - up by nearly eight percent to 1.46 billion in 2011/12, and a healthy increase in freight volumes,
national high speed network, starting with the HS2 line. Along with many smaller schemes, these projects are attracting the interest of many of the companies taking part in the show. Railtex covers all sectors of the rail supply market, embracing both fixed assets - track, signalling, structures - and rolling stock. Maintenance of the network and its vehicles is also a strong focus for participating companies. This breadth of coverage guarantees the presence of well known international names such as Alstom, Bombardier and Siemens, as well as suppliers of the many specialised products and services essential to the safe, efficient and cost effective operation of main line and urban railway networks.
Below: Railtex covers all sectors of the rail supply market, embracing both fixed assets - track, signalling, structures - and rolling stock
Most sectors of this market depend heavily on electrical engineering. Plans to electrify large parts of the British network, starting with the Great Western and Midland main lines and routes in Scotland and northwest England, will increase demand for electrical products and engineering skills - both for the necessary infra- structure and the trains that will use it. This key development will be a focus for many Railtex exhibitors.
Minister to open show
Railtex will be formally opened by minister of state for transport Simon Burns on 30th April. On the same day the minister will deliver a keynote speech as part of an extensive semi- nar programme running throughout the show. Keynote presentations will be made on subsequent days by Network Rail chairman Richard Parry-Jones and by Crossrail chief
executive Andrew Wolstenholme. Covering mostly technical topics, seminar sessions are open to all, free of charge and without prior booking. Also open to all visitors will be the Project Update Theatre, where project directors and managers will outline the status of major UK rail schemes, with three presentations by Network Rail, one of which covers the company’s elec- trification plans, an update on the HS2 high speed rail network and a briefing by Hitachi Rail Europe on the IEP inter- city rolling stock programme. Additional industry insights will be provided by The Platform, which is being staged for the first time at Railtex in partnership with Rail Champions. This will take the form of an interac- tive discussion forum in which indus- try experts address topical themes, with audience participation welcome.
Promoting careers in rail Helping to address the industry’s skills needs at Railtex, a new programme ‘Rail - The Next Generation’ will intro- duce engineering students and gradu- ates to career opportunities in the rail sector. This initiative is supported by the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering (NSARE) and Young Railway Professionals (YRP). Participants will be given a tour of the exhibition, including meetings with leading companies to discuss their activities and possible career paths available. Also available to show visi- tors will be the Recruitment Wall, where they can search for vacancies with exhibiting firms.
Among organisations endorsing Railtex are the Railway Industry Association, the Rail Alliance, the Derby & Derbyshire Rail Forum, the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers, the Permanent Way Institution, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
up 9.5% to 21.06 billion tonne km. Tunnelling is now in progress on the £14.8bn Crossrail east-west cross- London line, due to open in stages from 2018. A major programme of main line electrification is getting under way and wholesale modernisa- tion of the signalling system is being undertaken as part of a wider strategy of enhancing the capacity and perfor- mance of the existing network. The government has shown its determina- tion to press ahead with plans for a
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Online visitor registration is avail- able up to 29th April at
www.railtex.co.uk. Pre-registering guarantees free access to Railtex and its many supporting activities and avoids a £20 entry fee payable on the door. The website also includes show opening times, the very latest list of exhibitors and gives full details of all seminars and many other supporting activities.
Railtex
www.railtex.co.uk T: 01727 814 400
Enter 224 APRIL 2013 Electrical Engineering
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