Europe’s leading rail cluster

Centred around Derby, the East Midlands is the rail capital of the UK and Europe’s densest rail cluster with an international reputation for excellence; the natural choice for GBR’s HQ.

Other potential locations may also have a long rail history, no other is still home to a diverse and highly innovative, competitive and forward-looking rail supply chain and talent pool – the ideal environment for GBR to drive its vision for a better railway.

The cluster has an estimated 600 companies linked to the rail sector and there are around 45,000 rail-related jobs across the East Midlands.

Activities include:

• Operators and regulators 
  East Midlands Railway, DB Cargo, Nottingham Trams, Network Rail and Rail Accident Investigation Branch 
• Research and innovation 
  University of Derby (Rail Research & Innovation Centre), University of Nottingham (Resilience Engineering/Human Factors), Loughborough University (Control Systems), Network Rail’s Tuxford and Melton Mowbray Rail Innovation & Development Centres and Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre  
• Digital and data 
  Resonate, Siemens, Hitachi, TrainFX 
• Manufacturing, maintenance and testing
  Balfour Beatty, Alstom, Sperry Rail, Railcare, Loram, AB Hoses 
• Technical services 
  Serco, SNC Lavalin, DB ESG, ECSL, Ricardo, TXM Consulting 
• Finance 
  Porterbrook, Angel Trains