Rail
Specialist R&D and supply chain expertise within a thriving transport ecosystem
As well as the location for a cluster of rail specialists, the rail sector benefits from Coventry & Warwickshire’s wider track record of excellence in advanced engineering and transport technologies with a skills base, R&D, and a supply chain shared with automotive and aerospace.
The local rail supply chain includes rolling stock, design and engineering, systems, infrastructure and testing and much of the local university research into light-weighting and battery storage have applications into rail technology.
“DCA’s Warwickshire location provides easy access to domestic and international travel networks, which remains essential for face to face communication with our clients. It also means we are surrounded by high quality, responsive industrial suppliers and top ranking institutions. Warwickshire is an attractive place to live, which helps us to recruit and retain the high calibre staff we need.”
ROB BASSILTechnical Director, DCA Design International 
In Good Company - The Key Players
As well as a number of companies focused on the rail sector, many of the local engineering supply chain work across sectors while the Rail Alliance at Quinton Rail Technology Centre has over 300 local and national members from across the whole area of the rail supply chain.
Rail OEMs - light and very light rolling stock manufacturers CAF Rail, Vivarail and Severn Lamb.
Rail suppliers – Parker Hannifin, Altrans, Telent, Oleo, IM Kelly and Autins.
Home to DCA Design of Warwick, designers of the Hitachi 800 Class High Speed Train interior, and Transport Design International, specialists in public transport systems whose clients include Bombardier, Siemens and Alstom.
Network Rail’s Rugby Operating Centre (ROC), Westwood Leadership Centre (their £20m national training centre) and National Distribution Centre (NDC) are all located here.
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of test track, connected to the national rail network
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key rail specialisms: light-weighting, low carbon powertrain, light and very light rail, design and prototyping
SECTOR ECOSYSTEM
The Quinton Rail Technology Centre (QRTC) near Stratford-upon-Avon - connected to the national network and features engineering workshops, extensive storage facilities, 2400m rail test track and a cluster of rail specialists. The facilities can be used for impact testing, product approval, product development, trade events and training. It is home to a new light rail testing centre, with UK Tram.
WMG at the University of Warwick - applies its automotive expertise to light rail. It is a partner in the Revolution Light Rail project, facilitating low cost connectivity of suburban and rural areas.
The Centre for Mobility and Transport and the Applied Low Carbon Centre at Coventry University - brings together multi-disciplinary teams researching vehicle dynamics, low carbon technologies, cyber security and autonomous systems, future vehicle design.
Advanced Propulsion Centre, at the University of Warwick showcases a 10 year, £1bn investment by UK government in future propulsion technologies.
The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Ansty develops and proves innovative manufacturing processes and technologies. Members include leading rolling stock companies Alstom, Siemens, Thales and London Underground.
The National College for High Speed Rail in Birmingham, will provide specialist vocational training for future generations of engineers.
The National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR), with a multimillion pound facility based in Northampton, is an international Centre of Excellence for skills development and collaborative working in traction and rolling stock.
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