Enabling Growth & Reindustrialisation

Laura May

Engagement Manager

"Rail plays an important role in enabling wider economic growth through the connectivity it brings, including light rail, freight, and the movement of goods and building materials. Growth happens when people, businesses and ideas are given the opportunity and the environment to flourish. Through collaboration, networking and industry engagement, Rail Forum is committed to helping organisations build connections, unlock opportunities and shape the future of rail.”

Rail is an important enabler of economic growth. It connects people with jobs and opportunities, moves goods and materials, supports regeneration and provides a market for manufacturing, engineering and technology businesses across the UK.

For the rail supply chain, growth depends on a strong domestic market, greater certainty and the ability to compete at home and internationally. Rail Forum’s Enabling Growth & Reindustrialisation pillar will bring our Manufacturing and Export activity together with our wider work to champion investment, connectivity and the economic value of rail.

Support from Rail Forum...

Across Enabling Growth & Reindustrialisation, Rail Forum will:

Champion UK rail manufacturing, promoting domestic capability, skills, investment and resilient supply chains.
Connect members with international opportunities, partners and practical export support.
Promote supply-chain capability in the UK and overseas through campaigns, events and industry engagement.
Make the case for long-term investment, highlighting the wider economic benefits created by rail and greater certainty for suppliers.
Create opportunities to collaborate, connecting members with customers, government, partners and other businesses to support growth.

Introducing our Export Partner

GCRE is a cutting-edge rail testing and research facility in Wales. The GCRE serves as a unique, purpose-built environment for testing, validation, and innovation in the rail sector. The facility includes an electrified, high-speed test track, as well as a 4.5km low-speed loop, designed for extensive research on rolling stock, infrastructure, and rail operations under controlled conditions. This capability supports new and existing rail industry players looking to test, certify, and enhance their products before release or export.

The GCRE's mission is to position the UK as a leader in rail technology by attracting international collaborations, making it an ideal partner for Rail Forum's export initiatives. By providing world-class testing and research opportunities, GCRE enhances the UK's export potential and aligns with the nation's ambition to drive innovation in the global rail market.

For more info, visit: https://www.gcre.wales/
A formal press release on this topic can be found here.

Export Support

Our support makes use of our extensive and growing network of partnerships and strong working relationships which includes:

Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade with engagement across the UK and internationally, from International Trade Advisors at the cutting edge of support delivery through to Ministerial level
Department for Transport (International) with regular dialogue enabling member awareness and involvement in consultation, visits, MOUs and high level activities
UK Export Finance, supporting not only UK companies with financial services, but also support major clients to deliver projects with UK supply chain - we are working closely in Africa (and beyond)

International Partnerships

European Rail Clusters Initiative - our membership with ERCI is a great opportunity to promote UK innovation across a network of 18 rail clusters, and deliver international collaborative opportunities, both supporting export growth.
Southern African Railways Association- our Letter of Intent, signed in 2023, aims to support the wider SARA objectives and provide opportunity to profile UK rail expertise to support the development of SARA member rail operations. It also covers finance and education with our co-partners UKEF, DBIST and BCRRE.

Rail Manufacturing: An Engine for Growth (Policy Document)

Rail Forum has published Rail Manufacturing: An Engine for Growth - a policy document developed with our Manufacturing Steering Group that sets out practical actions to drive greater benefits for the UK economy through rail manufacturing.

The document makes the case for securing skilled jobs now and into the future, encouraging investment in technology and skills, and reducing costs through greater productivity. Crucially, none of the recommendations require additional government funding or new legislation - they are practical steps that can be adopted quickly, delivering real benefits for suppliers, clients, and UK taxpayers.

The recommendations complement and build on the conclusions of recent Transport Committee inquiries into the boom-and-bust approach to rail investment and manufacturing skills, and we encourage Government to go further in adopting them.

Read Here

#MayMake

Throughout May 2026, Rail Forum ran the #MayMake campaign - a dedicated social media initiative putting UK rail manufacturing firmly in the spotlight.

MayMake invited members to share what they make, where they make it, and who makes it happen. From components and systems to full vehicle assembly, the campaign was an opportunity to show the depth and breadth of UK rail manufacturing capability: loudly, confidently, and together.

36 organisations took part, sharing their stories on LinkedIn and making the case for UK sourcing to customers, partners, and procurement decision-makers across the sector.

Get Involved in 2027

#MayMake will return in May 2027. If you'd like to take part, or want to discuss UK manufacturing advocacy in the meantime, get in touch.

UK Rail Manufacturing Capability Brochure

Our UK Rail Manufacturing Capability brochure showcases the breadth, innovation, and strength of the UK’s rail manufacturing sector.

The 1st edition highlighted the diverse capabilities of our members and their vital contribution to the domestic and global rail supply chain. Building on that success, the second edition—launched in May 2025—features an expanded collection of 81 member case studies, reflecting the growing momentum, expertise, and collaboration within the industry. Both editions are designed to connect businesses, promote UK capabilities, and support growth across the sector.

Explore the, fully-interactive, latest 3rd Edition brochure below to discover the exceptional talent and innovation driving UK rail manufacturing forward.

Introducing our Manufacturing Partner

Transport Design International (TDI) are market leaders in the design and manufacture of lightweight, mass transit solutions for the transport industry. With 30 years’ experience in the rail industry, their Very Light Rail product platforms Revolution VLR, Lync VLR and Orbit run on lower-cost infrastructure and offer more affordable transport solutions. Their product portfolio offers platform and kerb height vehicle solutions and single or multi-car options for both urban and rural routes. All projects are aimed at achieving the company’s sustainable goals of zero-carbon functionality for a greener future.

Find out more: https://transportdesigninternational.com/

Rail Forum Manufacturing Steering Group

Neil Cross – Ibstock (Anderton Concrete)

Lee Coleman, National Sales Manager Rail and Power - Cembre

Established in 1986 in Curdworth, Sutton Coldfield, CEMBRE Ltd manufacture over 6,000,000 connections and terminals a year. With a vast array of approvals for Network Rail, London Underground and Rollingstock Manufacturers CEMBRE seek to cooperate with the users of its products to search the best technical and economical solutions related to electrical connection applications.

Steve Barbour, Managing Director - Composite Braiding

Steve Barbour founded Composite Braiding Ltd focussing on higher-volume, lower-cost, more sustainable composite structures. He has turned around 4 other composite businesses and prior to that was a senior manager at Rolls-Royce.

Joanne Farms, Business Development Manager - Hydram

Hydram Engineering is a leading supplier of precision sheet metal components, assemblies and sheet metal fabrications and proud to be your UK manufacturing partner.

Neil Cross, National Sales Manager – Rail & Infrastructure, Ibstock

“As a leading manufacturer of precast concrete products for the UK rail sector, we are proud to be supporting Rail Forum as a Manufacturing Partner for this year. We are able to offer a complete and lower embodied carbon range to UK rail operators, empowering them to make greener choices when specifying infrastructure materials. “As one of the most advanced rail systems in the world, the British rail network is an exciting and dynamic space and, with more investment in the network pledged by the new government, it’s a fantastic time to be working within the sector.”

Nigel Hewson, Business Development Manager - Infotec

Infotec is a world class designer and manufacturer of LED & TFT passenger information displays. Its products are built to withstand the challenging environments of rail stations, bus and tram networks and on-vehicle applications. Featuring ruggedised designs, environmental management, proven reliability and the capacity to handle a wide range of industry standard protocols over RS485, Ethernet, WiFi and mobile networks, our displays are built to meet your needs.

Tom Roberts, Sales Director – Signal House Group Ltd.

Signal House Group – Founded in 1970, We specialise in designing and manufacturing fabricated steelwork for Rail, Nuclear, Construction and Telecoms industry partners. We deliver work up to a UKCA EXC 4 standard and are Constructionline Gold approved.

Paul Salkeld, Head of Business at TDI Greenway

TDI Greenway are delighted to be supporting the Rail Forum as their Manufacturing Partner again this year. With a UK contract in place and growing UK and international interest in our innovative green approach to transport and particularly very light rail, TDI will be expanding with a new build facility in the Midlands, this will become the manufacturing and technical centre for the business. This is an exciting time to be working with Rail Forum with its extensive industry base, and we are looking forward to flying the flag for UK Manufacturing and creating more opportunities across our local and national supply chain.”

Podcast Series

Relevant Rail Forum Events

UK Manufacturing & Supply Chain

A strong UK rail manufacturing base supports skilled jobs, investment, innovation and resilient supply chains. Giving businesses greater long-term visibility of future work is also critical to investment in people, facilities and capability.

Rail Forum’s Rail Manufacturing: An Engine for Growth sets out practical recommendations to strengthen UK rail manufacturing, support jobs and skills, encourage investment and improve productivity.

Read Rail Manufacturing: An Engine for Growth

This builds on our established manufacturing activity, including the Rail Forum Manufacturing Steering Group and #MayMake, which saw 36 organisations showcase UK rail manufacturing capability in 2026. Rail Forum will continue to champion UK capability and make the case for a stable pipeline that gives suppliers the confidence to invest and grow.

Exports & International Growth

UK rail expertise, products and services have applications far beyond the domestic market. International growth can help businesses diversify, build new partnerships and take UK capability into new markets.

Rail Forum’s established export programme connects members with opportunities, market intelligence and support through relationships with organisations including the Department for Business and Trade, UK Export Finance and international rail networks. Activity includes export communications, market briefings, roundtables, international missions, promotion and advocacy.

Investment, Connectivity & Economic Growth

Rail investment creates benefits beyond the railway itself. Better connectivity can support employment, regeneration, housing and place-making, while rail freight connects businesses and moves goods and materials across the economy.

The economic case for rail therefore needs to consider the wider outcomes it enables. Recent industry work has highlighted rail’s role in connecting people to opportunity, unlocking housing and regeneration and supporting high-quality manufacturing, engineering, digital and construction jobs. Rail freight also has an important role in supporting industry, trade, productivity and future economic growth.

Rail Forum will help members engage in these discussions, demonstrate supply-chain capability and make the case for sustained investment that supports both a stronger railway and wider economic growth. This builds on existing activity including Rail Forum’s 2026 Annual Conference, themed Rail: Fuelling Economic Growth.