18-19 June 2025
Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre
Explore more features: Network Rail at Rail Live
The demonstration will include examples of innovative equipment and processes which support our objectives of being efficient, sustainable and safe. Displays are being developed with the three Rail Systems Alliances. Vehicles on display will include the following:
Walk through an MMT! Mobile Maintenance Trains make working on the railway quicker, safer and more efficient as well as less disruptive for passengers and freight. Based at locations around the country, the MMTs provide a ‘workshop on wheels’ for engineers and track workers as they carry out repairs, renewals and upgrades to Britain’s 20,000-mile rail network. The machine will be opened up for you to walk through and see what’s inside.
Network Rail Supply Chain Operations has recently retrofitted a Plasser & Theurer 09-3x tamper with some new system 7 tamping banks. These have a whole host of technology to improve track geometry as well as improving safety.
SRS vehicle being developed to support reducing/eradicating freight derailments. Utilises an SRS with geometry measurement kit on it, to dynamically measure our infrastructure, meaning NR could measure all areas of our track under load, in places where our TRV fleets don’t run, and measure our high-risk derailment sites.
MFS+ are MFS wagons with two sets of crawler tracks that allow the MFS+ to manoeuvre themselves off the rail infrastructure onto the ballast bed. The wagons are then used to transfer spent or new material from site to rail mounted MFS or UMH into the site. The MFS+ is used for continuous conveying, storage and subsequent transportation of excavated material. The MFS+ is hauled to a site in train formation and has the ability to transform into crawler mode and become a tracked vehicle in the area of excavation and unloading of material.
It can be used in the forward working direction to discharge new ballast, waste material, and other material ready for conveying. It can also be coupled with other MFS wagons of a similar design. This machine can also work as a system with an excavator in Materials Removal Mode.
The UMH is a material handling vehicle able to receive materials from either MFS+ or MFS and distribute material via a series of conveyors.
The conveyor system consists of a collector belt, a swivelling conveyor, a mid-mounted chute delivery system and two ballasting belts arranged beneath the frame on both sides of the vehicle. The UMH can also distribute materials such as ballast, pea gravel and type 1 to other machines, open wagons or directly onto the infrastructure"
Explore more features: Network Rail at Rail Live
Rail Live was once again the premier railway exhibition to attend. Rolling stock, plant, people, techniques – always a showstopper! Rail Live is consistently the best opportunity for everyone in the railway family to widen their networks, knowledge and understanding of the rail industry.
Rail Live is a truly notable event for all people with a professional rail interest, not only those involved with rail plant and track working. Having RAIL take over the organisation and promotion of the show has made it possible for Rail Live to become a ‘Farnborough for the Railway’, and an event that is now well and truly in the international rail calendar.
Some impressive tech on display at the @RAIL #RailLive2023 today - including digital temporary speed restriction signs, composite platforms from and even a @BostonDynamics robot dog! (I have no idea whether the @BTPDogs met robodog...).
I would encourage you to get around and talk to as many people as you can, because in my visit I genuinely have spoken to people I would never have seen before. That’s one of the joys of this dynamic, and it’s why I’m a real passionate supporter of Rail Live.
Rail Live is an unmissable event for SMEs like us to connect with passionate industry leaders and suppliers. The event has become a staple in our calendar, and is a fantastic opportunity to incept exciting project collaborations and partnerships. We're highly anticipating this year's event, and look forward to taking in the diverse breadth of rail expertise on offer!
Rail Live is a key event for Thomas Graham as an industrial supplier, it is a great opportunity to exhibit our range of products to the rail industry, speak to key contacts, that under normal conditions wouldn’t be accessible and we have been able to exhibit our specialised calibrated lockers, which have been a great success with some sizeable orders.
Rail Live 2023 was Trough-Tec System’s and HIRD Group’s best Rail Live yet! It’s the only show where we can truly showcase and demonstrate our entire product portfolio in such a practical manner, and to such a diverse audience of customers and end-users.
Network Rail is really pleased to continue to support Rail Live 2024. However, pre-election restrictions on public bodies mean that Network Rail won't be able to take part in any speaking slots this year. Our team, including Andrew Haines, Network Rail Chief Executive, will still attend in force.
The Network Rail Village will still have lots of exhibits across multiple zones, including safety, technology, and vehicle demos, so please do come and say hello. Our team are still pleased to speak to you, just not in a formal, recorded manor.
We're all looking forward to seeing you there!