Centre for excellence can put Wales on the global rail map

NEW trains and their component parts in the supply chain have to be tested during their construction to ensure safe design and their operation integrates one component part with another.

- PROFESSOR STUART COLE

Last week, Simon Jones, chief executive of Welsh Government sponsored Global Centre for Rail Excellence (GCRE), showed me around its location on an opencast mining site on the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons).

It gave this column the opportunity to understand how it sees its future, how much progress has been made and the market competition and funding challenges it faces.

It is intended to be a purpose-built facility for railway research, testing and certification of rolling stock, infrastructure and innovative new rail and mobility technologies.

It is a futuristic vision to put Wales ahead in railway technology development where continuous technological change is evidenced by comparing the previous diesel-powered IC-125 with the current GWR Hitachi electric-diesel trains operating between south Wales and London.

The centre has received some negative comments, but is this the Welsh lobster syndrome, where any lobster trying to escape the pot gets pulled back?

Earlier discussions with possible investors were not successful. Here, this column sets out the investment appraisal criteria investors would use in considering market potential and the expected revenue flows.

GCRE has the characteristics for success. An essential connection to the live railway is provided by the Onllwyn coal washery line maintained by Network Rail.