Britain's GBRf wins deal with Network Rail to build and run the Rail Innovation & Development Centre at Melton
GB Railfreight (GBRf) has made a significant stride in the rail industry with their new contract to operate the Rail Innovation & Development Centre (RIDC) Melton. This move marks a departure from their traditional business model of freight operations and signifies a commitment to innovation.
The RIDC Melton, located in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, is a unique high-speed test facility in the UK. It offers a safe, specialized non-mainline facility for testing, validating, and commissioning new and modified rolling stock, plant, on-track machines, infrastructure, equipment, and technology. The facility supports both high and low-speed testing, with a 4-mile long slower-speed test track and a 13-mile long high-speed test track.
The slower-speed test track, from Old Dalby to Stanton Tunnel, has a maximum speed of 60mph, 25kV OLE, and DC 4th rail capability. The high-speed test track, between Melton Junction and Edwalton, boasts a maximum speed of 125mph and 11 miles of this equipped with 25kV overhead line equipment (OLE).
John Smith, the Managing Director of GBRf, will oversee the operation of RIDC Melton. Tim Hartley, the Business Development Director at GBRf, expressed his excitement about the contract, stating that the operation at RIDC Melton positions GB Railfreight well to offer a more efficient end-to-end service to all RIDC stakeholders. He further emphasized that innovation is at the heart of GBRf's business model.
The contract win expands GBRf's offerings to Network Rail and the stakeholders of RIDC Melton. It is expected to further diversify GBRf's services and provide a more efficient end-to-end service to all RIDC stakeholders. The operation of RIDC Melton by GB Railfreight is another diversification from their traditional business model of freight operations and reinforces their commitment to innovation in the rail industry.
RIDC Melton is a dedicated test facility for the rail industry, providing safe and reliable testing environments for new and modified technology. The facility, purpose-built for testing, offers a testing ground away from the constraints of the mainline network, making it an ideal location for innovative testing and development.
The operation of RIDC Melton by GB Railfreight is expected to start on 1 April 2021 and last for four years. This significant step for GBRf is expected to position them as a key player in the rail industry's testing and development sector.
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