Preparations well underway for Railtex/Infrarail – the meeting place for the rail industry in 2021

From 7 – 9 September 2021, Railtex/Infrarail will gather the whole railway industry together in Birmingham. It will be the first time the exhibitions have taken place since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the initial decision to postpone Infrarail 2020 to 2021, Mack-Brooks Exhibitions, Organisers of the events, made the strategic decision to co-locate Railtex and Infrarail to better serve the needs of the market. Now gathered under one roof, the exhibitions will serve the entire railway supply chain and present an impressive array of technologies and innovations ranging from total railway systems to the smallest specialised components.

A new format

For the first time, Railtex/Infrarail will become a hybrid event. The new setup will merge the onsite offering with interactive digital networking opportunities. A new matchmaking system will connect visitors to relevant suppliers, allowing them to arrange meetings based on complementary profiles. International visitors who won’t be able to attend due to travel restrictions will have the advantage of exploring the latest innovations and services online. Powered by this new matchmaking technology, a new scheme – ‘Meet the Buyer’ – will aim to promote fruitful exchanges and the establishment of new commercial partnerships.

An impressive array of sessions and a strong line-up of speakers

As the leading one-stop-shop event for the entire railway industry in the UK, Railtex/Infrarail reflects the dynamic developments in the sector and the vision of the rail network of the future. This year, conversations on the future of the industry will once again take centre stage with RIA’s ‘Future Focus Conference’, a three-day feature that will offer insights around four main themes:

• Growth – rail can be a catalyst for economic growth, how to ensure it is supporting investment, jobs and GDP?
• Geography: how to ensure rail reaches and benefits all corners of the UK?
• Green: rail will be essential to meet decarbonisation goals. How can clients and the supply chain work together to decarbonise the network even further?
• Global: across the world, nations are investing in rail infrastructure. It is a truly global market, which the UK – as the home of the railways – should be at the centre of. What opportunities are there for the UK and where do its strengths lie?

The programme will include keynotes, Q&A sessions and panel discussions held by a remarkable line-up of speakers, including prominent industry figure Graham Stuart (MP, Minister for Exports), Robert Ampomah (Chief Technology Officer, Network Rail) and Mike Muldoon (Head of Business Development UK & Ireland, Alstom).

Also returning to the programme will be the ‘Unlocking Innovation Zone’, organised by the events’ Main Partner RIA and supported by Network Rail and UKRRIN (UK Rail Research & Innovation Network of universities). The sessions will focus on new ideas and thinking to be explored in order to benefit the railway sector, as well as its passengers and economy. Sessions will run each day, covering:

• High-Level Challenges – Opportunities from UK rail clients
• Near Term Challenges – Opportunities from Tier 1s and Tier 2s
• Funding and Partners conversations to take innovations to market
• Elevator Pitches from a range of contributors, including SMEs and startups – curated in collaboration with UKRRIN and other associations.

Visitor information

Ticket registration is now available on the exhibition website. Online tickets for Railtex/Infrarail 2021 are free of charge and will give attendees fast-track admission to the event, allowing them to skip the queue onsite. Entrance tickets are valid on all three days of the exhibition and include free access to all conferences and associated events.

The Railtex/Infrarail 2021 visitor flyer has just been published, offering compact information about the show, such as opening hours and travel & accommodation information. Visitors can download a copy via the Visitor Hub on the official show website.

Hotel registration is also open and discounted room rates for attendees are available. The hotels are located close to the NEC and each of them offers StaySafe™ policies in response to COVID-19. Attendees can book their hotel room and view hotel policies directly from the official show website.

Railtex/Infrarail 2021 will take place from 7 – 9 September 2021 in halls 11 & 12 of the NEC Birmingham. The Midlands is home to 250+ globally renowned rail companies – 9 rail and engineering specialist colleges, 5 rail test facilities and 20 rail centres of excellence – making it the perfect location to host the events. The NEC has taken numerous measures to create a safe and controlled environment to ensure all attendees can safely meet in September.

Visitors can sign up to the newsletter for regular updates and notifications prior to the show. Further information is available at www.uk-railhub.co.uk