Global Centre of Rail Excellence announces partnerships and innovation competition at InnoTrans 2024

Major Developments Announced by Global Centre of Rail Excellence at InnoTrans 2024

Berlin, Germany – The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) has announced a series of significant partnerships and launched a substantial rail innovation competition at InnoTrans 2024, the premier international trade fair for transport technology held in Berlin.

Key Partnerships to Advance AI Integration and Infrastructure

GCRE, established in 2021 with a £50 million initial investment from the Welsh Government and subsequent funding from the UK Government, aims to enhance rail infrastructure while achieving net zero carbon emissions. At the event, GCRE, headquartered at the former Nant Helen opencast site and Onllwyn Washery in South Wales, unveiled collaborations focusing on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the railway sector.

GCRE and AI start-up Konux formalised their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership will leverage Konux’s advanced predictive maintenance, network usage, and traffic monitoring solutions, positioning GCRE as a forefront facility for developing next-generation rail infrastructure. Konux, recognised globally for its innovative data science and machine learning applications, will utilise GCRE’s facilities to validate AI-driven solutions under real-world conditions.

Rob Forde, GCRE Ltd’s director of strategy and skills, and Thomas Böhm, Konux’s chief product officer, both expressed optimism about the collaboration’s potential to revolutionise rail infrastructure and support industry-wide shifts towards sustainability.

£500,000 Rail Innovation Competition Launched

GCRE also introduced a £500,000 rail innovation competition titled Contracts for Innovation: International Rail Innovation Challenges, in partnership with Innovate UK and the Department for Business and Trade. The competition encourages global collaboration to present innovative solutions addressing fundamental rail industry issues. Focus areas include track innovation, vehicle improvement, operations, and construction, particularly targeting advancements like reducing ballast and wheel degradation, enhancing passenger comfort, and decarbonising construction materials.

Simon Jones, chief executive of GCRE Ltd, and Mike Noakes, head of rail at the Department for Business and Trade, highlighted the competition’s critical role in fostering groundbreaking ideas poised to create stronger, greener, and more reliable railways worldwide.

Crossrail International Partnership

A salient partnership with Crossrail International was also announced. This collaboration aims to share best practices and advance significant rail infrastructure projects globally. Crossrail International, known for its strategic advice on complex rail projects, will provide insights and support to enhance GCRE’s project delivery capabilities.

Paul Dyson, CEO of Crossrail International, emphasized the partnership’s role in setting new standards for rail innovation and the mutual benefits of leveraging UK rail expertise on a global scale.

Collaboration with Ulusoy Railway Systems

GCRE signed an MoU with Turkish railway catenary systems manufacturer Ulusoy Railway Systems, facilitating the company’s entry into the UK market. This partnership will utilise GCRE’s resources for product development and showcasing, integrating Ulusoy’s extensive experience in railway electrification into the innovative environment provided by GCRE.

Kelly Warburton, chief commercial officer at GCRE, and Ali Unal, Ulusoy’s business development manager, noted the collaboration’s potential to accelerate Ulusoy’s growth in the UK railway market and enhance GCRE’s commercial momentum.

Thales UK Partnership for Digital Security

GCRE and Thales UK signed an MoU to collaborate on creating secure and resilient digital solutions for the rail industry. This partnership focuses on enhancing cybersecurity measures, technological resilience, and commercialisation of new technologies. Educational initiatives will also play a vital role, fostering digital skills and supporting local community prosperity.

Tony Burton of Thales UK and Simon Jones of GCRE underscored the importance of this collaboration in ensuring the security and resilience of critical national infrastructure.

Next Generation Rail Technologies Agreement

Next Generation Rail Technologies (NGRT) has committed to deploying its real-time monitoring systems at GCRE. This Malaga-based company specialises in enhancing railway safety and efficiency through advanced monitoring technology. The partnership allows NGRT to demonstrate its system, which identifies rail infrastructure issues, to a broader commercial audience in a live environment.

Kelly Warburton and Richard Aaroe, CEO of NGRT, emphasized the significant role of this agreement in advancing rail technology and the potential for GCRE’s facilities to showcase NGRT’s innovations.

These developments underscore GCRE’s growing influence and its commitment to driving innovation within the rail sector.

Source: Noah Wire Services