The Global Centre of Rail Excellence took delivery to site of its first rail carriage this month – the start of an important new partnership between the innovation facility and global train manufacturer, Talgo.

The carriage was donated by Talgo and will based at the south Wales site to be developed into a visitor’s centre while the £400m GCRE facility is being constructed over the next few years.

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence is a major new rail innovation centre due to open in 2025. It will be a home for world class research, testing and certification of rolling stock, infrastructure and new rail technologies for the UK and international rail industry.

Speaking as the carriage was delivered to the Onllwyn site, Chief Executive Simon Jones said he hoped this was the beginning of a long-term partnership with the rolling stock manufacturer.

GCRE will be the UK’s first net zero railway. The facility will include two 25KV electrified test loops, one a 6.9km high speed rolling stock track and the other a 4km ~60km/h infrastructure test track.

Simon Jones, Chief Executive of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence said:

“It was terrific to take delivery of the Talgo carriage earlier this month and to display it on our site. It is the very first piece of rolling stock to be delivered to the Global Centre of Rail Excellence facility and we hope to use the carriage as a visitor’s centre while we construct our new facility.

“Perhaps more importantly, we want this to be the start of longer-term relationship between the Global Centre of Rail Excellence and Talgo. 

“The services we will be providing on site – world class research, testing and certification of rolling stock, infrastructure and innovative new rail technologies - are ones that we know can benefit high quality, international manufacturers such as Talgo.

“Developing the GCRE and Talgo partnership is something that we are committed to doing. Talgo have been supporters of GCRE throughout our development phase.  By facilitating their rail testing and innovation requirements we can support the innovative, net zero technologies that we need to underpin the decarbonised rail network of tomorrow.

“We hope this will be the start of a fruitful and creative collaboration between GCRE and Talgo, to the mutual benefit of both companies.”

Jonathan Veitch of Talgo UK said:

“As pioneer of rail vehicle innovation, Talgo is glad to be the first piece of rolling stock to arrive to GCRE, first class research, testing and certification facilities”.
“We fully share GCRE vision and we hope this will be a first step of a successful collaboration between both parties to bring innovation and efficient testing proposals to a market in which Talgo holds a true interest. We are keen of the capabilities our technology has for decarbonising and improving rail transport in the UK.”

About GCRE

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence is a major new rail innovation centre being constructed in south Wales. GCRE was established in 2021 with an initial commitment of £50 million from the Welsh Government. The UK Government is supporting the project with £7.4m of funding for research and development along with capital funding of £20 million. 

GCRE is currently in the process of a major public procurement to attract private funding to the business. 

About Talgo

Talgo is a leading company in the design, manufacture and maintenance of high-speed, light trains with a manufacturing presence, among other countries, in Spain, Germany, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United States. The Company is recognized worldwide for its innovative capabilities, unique and distinctive technology, and reliability. Talgo is Renfe’s main supplier of high-speed and very high-speed trains and the supplier of trains in the “Haramain” high-speed railway line project between Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Talgo is also the manufacturer chosen by the German operator Deutsche Bahn and the Danish operator DSB.

For further information, please contact: 
Press contact: 
Aída Prados and Berta de Arístegui - Estudio de Comunicación 
Email: talgo@estudiodecomunicacion.com  
Phone no.: +34 91 576 52 50