Centre of Excellence in Rail innovation

We continue to be the home of rail research and innovation. In 1935 the LMS Scientific Research Laboratory was established which evolved into the globally recognised British Rail Railway Technical Centre, opened in 1964. Today innovation around rail decarbonisation, digital solutions and network resilience are the focus of collaborative partnerships between industry and leading research centres

The Railway Technical Centre was established in Derby, specialisms from across the rail industry were co-located – bringing together functions from Euston, Darlington, Swindon, Eastleigh, Crewe and Glasgow.

Today, Derby and the East Midlands is still the UK’s leading centre of rail innovation, across a rich range of research institutions and the private sector supply chain, including:

  • Resonate - digital railway and connected transport solutions
  • University of Derby (Rail Research & Innovation Centre)
  • University of Nottingham (Network Rail Strategic University Partner)
  • Loughborough University (Control Systems)
  • Tuxford Rail Innovation & Development Centre (Network Rail)
  • Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre (Porterbrook)

Aventra train
Britain's first brand new hydrogen train fleet – being jointly developed by Alstom and Eversholt
Sanjay Razdan

The Rail Innovation Centre in Derby is at the heart of Balfour Beatty’s technology offering with the specific purpose of driving efficiencies and safety across the rail network.

Sanjay Razdan, Managing Director, Omnicom Balfour Beatty
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