Rail Live returned to Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre (LMIRC) on 17-18 June, once again bringing together the UK rail industry for two days of innovation, networking, and debate.
Although the exhibition felt slightly smaller than in previous years, there was no shortage of technology on display. Grey skies and occasional showers replaced the blazing sunshine that has become something of a Rail Live tradition, but the weather did little to dampen spirits as visitors explored hundreds of stands showcasing the latest products and services from across the sector.
More than simply an exhibition, Rail Live remains one of the industry’s most valuable meeting places. Established suppliers stood alongside ambitious SMEs, major items of rolling stock shared space with ingenious safety devices and plant, while the three conference theatres provided a forum for debate on the challenges and opportunities facing Britain’s railways.
Innovation in focus
The LMIRC itself continues to evolve. One of the biggest developments since last year’s exhibition has been the launch of Porterbrook’s continuous test loop, with visitors given the opportunity to experience the UK’s only continuous rail testing facility first-hand.
Throughout the event, trains carried passengers around the circuit, accompanied by an audio commentary explaining the site’s role in developing and testing the next generation of rolling stock. The attraction proved one of Rail Live’s highlights, underlining Long Marston’s growing importance as a centre for railway innovation.
Across the exhibition, suppliers demonstrated practical solutions to many of the railway’s familiar challenges – improving productivity, enhancing safety and supporting decarbonisation.
Rail Ability’s award-winning RA-BUC480 Ballast Undercutter & Trencher attracted considerable attention. Having been named Innovation of the Year at the 2025 National Rail Awards, the machine is now becoming established as a strategic on-track plant asset in parts of Network Rail’s network, demonstrating the increasing role of mechanisation in improving the efficiency of renewals work.
Permaquip showcased an updated Portable Sleeper Squarer that can now be lifted by a pickup-mounted crane and transported in the vehicle itself, making deployment quicker and more practical for engineers working in remote locations.
AP Webb and Rail Ability also unveiled plans for an upgraded ballast distributor based on the JCB 714 articulated dump truck. Increasing hopper capacity from 10 to 15 tonnes, the revised design aims to improve productivity while retaining the manoeuvrability of the existing machine.
Accessibility remained another important theme. Miller Fabrications demonstrated its modular ‘plug and play’ lift shaft, designed to reduce both installation time and construction costs. By assembling the lift and associated equipment before delivery, the company estimates projects could spend up to 10 fewer weeks on site – a significant benefit for station accessibility schemes.
Safety innovations included Horizon Utilities’ COMPASS Pro, a helmet-mounted device that warns staff when working close to live electrical cables. Already used within the electricity sector, the technology has clear potential for future railway applications once approved for Network Rail infrastructure.
Elsewhere, the Network Rail Sustainability Zone highlighted biodiversity initiatives and environmental management, while the Hitachi SME Digital & Tech Hub showcased digital innovations from smaller suppliers. Together they reflected the contribution SMEs are making to solving some of the industry’s biggest engineering challenges.
Rolling stock takes centre stage
Rolling stock once again proved one of Rail Live’s biggest attractions, with visitors able to inspect everything from heritage vehicles to the latest freight and alternative traction technology.
Among the show’s headline exhibits was GB Railfreight’s new Class 99 bi-mode electro-diesel locomotive. Due to enter service later this year, the Stadler-built locomotive combines electric traction beneath the wires with diesel power on non-electrified routes, reducing the need for locomotive changes during freight operations while helping lower carbon emissions. Developed in partnership with Beacon Rail, the fleet attracted considerable interest throughout the exhibition.
Porterbrook’s HydroFLEX hydrogen-powered train also returned to Long Marston, where much of its development has taken place, giving visitors another opportunity to see one of the UK’s best-known alternative traction demonstrators.
Another eye-catching exhibit came from Heavy Haul Rail, which displayed its newly rebranded Class 66 locomotive, No. 66537. Established earlier this year following its separation from Freightliner Intermodal, the company now operates around 250 freight services each week across the industrial, construction and infrastructure sectors. Representatives also joined conference discussions examining the future of freight traction and the role alternative fuels could play in reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.
Positive Traction demonstrated how existing rolling stock can be given a new lease of life with its 08e battery-electric shunting locomotive. Developed by converting the iconic Class 08, the zero-emission locomotive replaces the original diesel engine with battery technology while improving driver visibility, comfort and diagnostics. Rather than replacing proven assets outright, the project illustrates how remanufacturing can contribute towards the railway’s wider decarbonisation ambitions.
A very different attraction was the Railway 200 Inspiration exhibition train, which made one of the final stops on its nationwide tour at Long Marston. The travelling exhibition celebrates the past, present and future of Britain’s railways through interactive displays, historic artefacts and personal stories. Co-curated with the National Railway Museum, it had already welcomed around 90,000 visitors before arriving at Rail Live, providing many attendees with one last opportunity to step aboard before the tour’s conclusion.
More than an exhibition
While the exhibits inevitably attract most attention, Rail Live’s greatest value lies in bringing the industry together.
Across the Policy & Leadership, Engineering and Safety theatres, delegates explored topics including digital signalling, decarbonisation, freight growth, workforce development and improving railway safety. Meanwhile, countless conversations continued across the exhibition itself as suppliers, contractors, infrastructure managers and operators exchanged ideas, discussed new projects and strengthened existing relationships.
In an industry facing organisational reform, financial pressures, and rapid technological change, opportunities to share knowledge and collaborate remain just as important as the products on display.
Looking ahead
Although Rail Live 2026 felt slightly more compact than some previous editions, its quality remained undiminished. If anything, the smaller footprint made it easier to navigate, allowing visitors to spend more time engaging with exhibitors rather than simply moving between stands.
The cooler, overcast weather was a marked contrast to the sunshine that has characterised recent Rail Live events, yet the atmosphere remained positive throughout the two days. From the debut of GB Railfreight’s Class 99 and the launch of Porterbrook’s continuous test loop to practical engineering innovations and thought-provoking conference sessions, the exhibition once again demonstrated the breadth of expertise across the UK rail sector.
Rail Live continues to justify its reputation as the UK’s premier outdoor rail exhibition. It is more than a showcase for new products; it is a place where ideas are shared, partnerships are formed, and the industry’s future begins to take shape.
Whether visitors came to inspect the latest equipment and rolling stock, discover innovative engineering solutions, or simply reconnect with colleagues, this year’s event once again proved why Rail Live remains an important fixture in the railway calendar.
