British Rolling stock company Porterbrook has set out plans for its new test track facility which it acquired last month.
Based in Warwickshire, the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre became the property of Porterbrook, who has announced that the track will be electrified to enable the testing of electric trains.
This is already besides other plans set in place to test future hydrogen, bi-mode battery and diesel trains.
With the test track being 3.5km in length, the electrification and upgrading of the line are due to be completed by the end of next year. This will put the site at the forefront of train testing capabilities in the UK, for new future trains that will run on lighter rail systems and on more rural lines.
Along with electrification, the installation of ETCS (European Train Control System) in cab signalling will ensure that the new trains can also have their signalling control systems checked and tested at speeds of up to 50 mph.
Once the electrification plan has been completed, Long Marston Innovation Centre would have received over £75m of investment from Porterbrook since 2021, when the company first took over operations at the test facility.
Since then Porterbrook have upgraded the site by refurbishing the existing equipment and its offices, adding improved access for new trains that are delivered by road, and upgrading its testing and training capabilities, in addition to the creation of a new Asset Management facility at the cost of £3m.
“With the future of Long Marston now confirmed we've wasted no time starting the next phase of the site improvements to reinforce our commitment to being a long-term partner for the rail industry”
“Substantial replacement of life-expired vehicles is needed over the next decade, and the track upgrades mean that we can deliver the best level of service with our manufacturing partners to provide a full turnkey solution for new rolling stock entering service.”
Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook
Thanks the problem we don’t manufacture enough trains in the UK,
another test track in my opinion is a good thing! I would highly assume they have a client base in mind for the return on investment…
Will visits by Railway Enthusiasts clubs still be allowed like under the previous owners ?
Not sure how they expect to test at speeds of up to 50mph, there’s one small stretch of the track where they will achieve that, lasting for a few seconds.
How about linking the line back to Stratford from Honeybourne
Good point, Steve. This should be high on the list of rail reopenings. And it would make Long Marston more attractive as a facility if access became possible from two directions.
Let’s hope that this ‘substantial replacement of life expired vehicles’ leads to some ‘substantial’ work for our train building industry, eh?
Horses for courses. The Edwalton and Tuxford tracks are for specific purposes. And the Onllwyn site is not planned to be electrified.
Another rail test track! We’ll soon have more than we know what to do with: there’s already the Network Rail-operated ones at Melton Mowbray and Tuxford, and the modestly-named Global Centre of Rail Excellence being developed in South Wales. Now there’s to be one at Long Marston too. Serious question: will there be enough work going forward to keep all these expensive facilities busy?
It’s already there it’s just being updated to include electric by the new owner, the aerial picture is of the current site