South Wales is set to become a hub of railway research and innovation as a consortium of esteemed universities, including Cardiff, Swansea and Birmingham, secures a £15 million grant from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF).

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) Wales & Western has expressed its delight at the news, highlighting the potential for ground-breaking advancements in the field.

This substantial investment from UKRPIF will lay the foundation for establishing a world-leading Centre of Excellence for Railway Testing, Validation, and Customer Experience.

The new centre will be located at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) site, currently being developed near Onllwyn in the scenic Neath Valley.

Renowned industry partners such as Siemens, Atkins, Unipart, RSSB, GCRE, Knorr Bremse, Aegis, Angel Trains, Eversholt Rail, Furrer+Frey, Razor Secure, SLC Rail, EnServe, TRL, BBA, Vanguard, MoniRail, and EneRail are joining forces with the universities of Cardiff, Swansea, and Birmingham to shape this pioneering venture. Many of these industry partners are also members of the RIA.

Exciting plans are underway for the state-of-the-art facilities, with construction slated to commence later this year. Once completed, the Centre of Excellence will facilitate crucial research, testing, and validation activities related to the railway industry. It will also aim to enhance the overall customer experience, revolutionizing the way we perceive and interact with rail transportation.

This transformative initiative promises to position South Wales at the forefront of global railway innovation. With its collaborative approach and cutting-edge infrastructure, the Centre of Excellence for Railway Testing, Validation, and Customer Experience is set to propel the region’s railway industry into a new era of growth and progress

Robert Cook, RIA Wales & Western Lead said: “This investment is a vote of confidence in research and innovation in South Wales and will help secure the future development of the rail industry right across the UK. The funding and the partnership between these three universities is good news for RIA members and the supply sector, and will help the governments in Cardiff and Westminster to build a more effective integrated public transport network.

“We and our members look forward to working on this with Cardiff, Swansea and Birmingham universities in the months and years ahead”.