Come, hear and see the developing Global Centre of Rail Excellence. Women in Rail (Wales) and YRP Wales invite you to come and hear more about Europe’s premier rail research, testing and certification facility being built in South Wales.

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence is going to be a purpose built site for world class research, testing and certification of rolling stock, infrastructure and innovative new rail technologies that will fill a gap, not just in UK rail, but across Europe.

Established in 2021 with a commitment of £50 million from the Welsh Government. The UK Government has provided £20m and a further £7.4m is being provided through Innovate UK for Research and Development.

The site is 700 hectares, equivalent to the size of Gibraltar or Gatwick Airport. As a site for world class rail innovation GCRE will bring people and ideas together, supporting the design and development of imaginative new technologies and concepts that can be the backbone of the stronger, greener, and more affordable rail network of tomorrow.

Further information can be found at – https://www.gcre.wales/

The Day

The day will be an opportunity to hear from GCRE about the new facility and what it is looking to achieve not just in rail but across innovation. The day will be an opportunity to network with colleagues from across the country, understand more about the site as it develops (changing from open cast coal mine to Europe’s leading innovation facility) and to ask questions of the GCRE Team. The event will be help in a relaxed environment with interaction being key to its success.

Tours of site – There will be the opportunity for a limited number of people to take a tour of the site during the day. Each tour will last around one hour and will take place at 10.30, 11.45 and 13.00. There will be 3 Land Rovers and each will hold 4 people. (As this is a live construction site accessibility is restricted and facilities are not available on the tour). Availability for tours is limited.

Speakers – Outside of the tours there will be a number of speakers in the hall during the day who will talk about their experiences within rail. Speakers will include Gemma Southgate (TfW and Chair WiR (Wales)), Dr Debra Williams (Chair of GCRE Limited and leading business figure), Shane Andrews (Chair of Archway, Network Rail’s LGBT+ award winning employee network), Kelly Warburton (Chief Commercial Officer GCRE) and others to be confirmed.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Lunch will be from 12.45 and we would hope that everyone will be there for this as an opportunity to mingle.

To Register

Please email wales@womeninrail.org if you would like to go on the tour and please indicate your preferred tour time (note that this is restricted to 36). A slot will be confirmed with you if available.