Transport Minister Simon Burns will deliver a keynote speech on the opening day as part of an extensive free seminar programme running over all three days of the event.

Keynote presentations will also be made on subsequent days by Network Rail chairman Richard Parry-Jones, and Crossrail chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme.

Railtex 2013 returns to Earls Court 2 in London from 30th April to 2nd May, with its well known format of suppliers’ stands showcasing the best the rail industry has to offer from more than 300 exhibitors.

A wide range of additional features, including new for this year, The Yard – a display area for large plant; the Track, a display of rail-related machinery and tools presented on sections of track laid in the exhibition hall; a comprehensive Seminar Programme, and a Project Update Theatre which will showcase the latest developments in major rail projects.

Also new are the Railtex Awards which have been designed to recognise excellence within the organisations exhibiting, and celebrate their achievements.

Award categories are:

• Newcomer to Railtex
• Innovation
• Signalling & Telecoms
• Health & Safety
• Plant & Equipment
• Rolling Stock
• Rolling Stock Maintenance
• Track & Infrastructure Products
• Track & Infrastructure Maintenance
• Electrification
• Passenger Information, Fare Collection and Security
• Station Facilities
• Judges Choice

The Railtex Awards will be presented by Phil Tufnell and Garry Richardson.
As the UK’s leading rail event covering railway equipment, systems and services, Railtex 2013 is the industry’s meeting place – where visitors and exhibitors alike can see the latest technology in action, learn about new products and services and meet fellow industry professionals.

Exhibitors include some of the most familiar names serving the UK rail market including Alstom, Bombardier, Hitachi and Siemens, as well as many smaller specialists supplying a wide range of components, niche products and services to the industry.

There will also be plenty of activities that visitors can take part in. The Seminar Programme mentioned above runs throughout the show and is open to all, free of charge and without prior booking.

Additional industry insights will be provided by The Platform, staged for the first time at Railtex in partnership with Rail Champions. This will take the form of an interactive discussion forum with panels of industry experts addressing topical themes.

In the Project Update Theatre, project directors and managers will outline the status of major UK rail schemes, with participation by Network Rail.

The industry’s skills needs are also being addressed at Railtex 2013. A new programme dubbed ‘Rail – The Next Generation’ is intended to introduce engineering students and graduates to career opportunities in the rail sector. The programme is supported by the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering (NSARE) and Young Railway Professionals (YRP).

Participants will be given a tour of the exhibition, including meetings with companies that have agreed to discuss their activities and possible career paths available, hands-on demonstrations of technical equipment, and seminars on rail industry innovation and research opportunities.

Also available to exhibitors will be the Recruitment Wall, where job vacancies and skills requirements can be publicised.

Commenting on the progress of this year’s Railtex, exhibition manager Heidi Cotsworth said: ‘The response to the show has been very positive. There is a good mix of well known companies, familiar smaller firms and some interesting new names.

‘There has also been a lot of interest from the industry in this year’s innovations, such as The Yard and the Railtex Awards.’

Railtex 2013 boasts an impressive list of supporting organisations and show partners, including: the Railway Industry Association, the Rail Alliance, Derby & Derbyshire Rail Forum, the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers, the Permanent Way Institution, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, plus NSARE
and YRP.

More information is available on the Railtex 2013 website: www.railtex.co.uk