As the leading one-stop-shop event for the entire railway industry in the UK, Railtex/Infrarail reflects the dynamic developments in the sector and the vision of the rail network of the future. The event is first choice for railway professionals on the lookout for the latest technologies and the ideal platform for exchanging knowledge and views on the latest developments at the heart of the industry.

Following the successful show launch of the innovative meeting platform EuroRail Hub, which brought the whole European railway industry together in March, Mack-Brooks Exhibitions are now looking ahead with a mind to continue to bring added value to the market at Railtex/Infrarail to support the recovery of the UK rail industry, all the while delivering a secure environment at the event for all participants.

To do so, the Organisers are keeping up to date with the latest government guidelines and closely working with the venue to ensure a safe return to events. “We’re looking forward to hosting Railtex/Infrarail at the NEC on 7-9 September. This promises to be a fantastic exhibition and a great opportunity for the rail industry to reconnect. In the meantime, we continue to work hard behind the scenes, preparing to resume full operations and ensuring visitors can return safely to the venue under our NEC Venue Protect measures,” expresses Ian Taylor, Managing Director of NEC Group Conventions & Exhibitions.

Whilst the impact of COVID-19 has been strongly felt across the entire railway supply chain, with a loss of revenue and decrease of productivity, the rail sector is still thriving. Significant improvements to the network are still being made and more than £48 billion will be spent over the next five years. Many major new rail projects such as HS2, The Great North Rail Project, the East-West Rail, Crossrail 2, and the TFL Four Lines Modernisation amounting to billions of pounds are underway or planned. The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, which was drafted by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and chair of the review Keith Williams, will be implemented in 2023 and includes the creation of Great British Railways (GBR), a new public body that will oversee the entire infrastructure and manage fare collections.

These substantial changes, along with ongoing projects at the heart of the rail industry, highlight the growing need for a rail marketplace as short and long-term plans are now being made across the whole country. “As we emerge from the Coronavirus pandemic, rail will play an essential role in rebooting the economy. The rail industry is crucial, not only for keeping our railways running successfully, but also for supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of investment – all around the country. Railtex/Infrarail comes at a vital time for the sector and will provide a fantastic opportunity for professionals to meet, network and engage, after so long apart. The Railway Industry Association is really pleased to be Show Partner of the event and support a trade show that provides so many opportunities for the rail supply sector. By meeting, sharing ideas and finding new business opportunities, suppliers will be better placed both to win more work and also to help leads the UK’s economic revival,” says Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of Railway Industry Association (RIA).

With planning security and clear guidelines in place, a need for face-to-face encounters and genuine networking opportunities is emerging, a fact borne out by the number of exhibitors signing up every week to express their desire to reconnect, get together and get back on track. Among the ranks of confirmed exhibitors at Railtex/Infrarail are small and medium-sized companies as well as large enterprises serving all aspects of the infrastructure and rolling stock technologies, including Deutzer Technische Kohle GmbH, Hitachi Information Control Systems Europe Ltd, Schweizer Electronic Ltd, Stadler Rail Management AG, Pandrol – Vortok, Lucchini Unipart Rail (LUR Ltd) and many more.

Seminars & conferences hosted by high-level industry experts and speakers are in the programme. Railtex/Infrarail’s recurring features also include an On-Track Display and Plant & Machinery Exhibits for live machinery demonstrations, allowing companies to find smart solutions to meet their needs.

For more information on Railtex/Infrarail, visit the official show website: www.uk-railhub.com

To visit the show, register at: https://shop.uk-railhub.com