01.05.15
Welcome to the show
Source: RTM Apr/May 15
Exhibition manager Kirsten Whitehouse sets the scene for this year’s three-day Railtex show at the NEC in Birmingham, which will welcome its first visitors on 12 May.
Planning for this year’s Railtex is now complete and we are looking forward to doors opening at the NEC on 12 May. More than 460 companies will be taking part, making it the biggest of these events in over a decade. And with a very buoyant mood in the industry thanks to the huge levels of investment going into the rail network, it promises to be a great show.
Our exhibitors are of course at the heart of Railtex. Visitors this year will find many of the industry’s best known names present. Their continuing support backs up our own findings that Railtex is a very effective way for companies to communicate with existing and future customers and to present their products and expertise. We are also pleased to be welcoming more than 140 firms exhibiting with us for the first time. Many companies have told us they will be presenting new products, so a day or two at the show is a great way to learn more about what the supplier sector has to offer.
As with previous Railtex and Infrarail events, the exhibition will include the familiar On Track Display sponsored by Tata Steel, showcasing track-related equipment and products. There will be two ‘hub’ areas co-ordinating a presence by members of the Rail Alliance and Derby & Derbyshire Rail Forum. Both feature in an impressive list of organisations supporting Railtex, which includes Network Rail, the Railway Industry Association, the Rail Supply Group and other leading industry bodies.
I have been managing Railtex since the beginning of this year. This was a happy return to familiar territory for me, as I previously was responsible for our Railtex and Infrarail shows between 2000 and 2004. The biggest change since then is the significant expansion of the supporting programme taking place alongside the exhibition. We see this as a very important development, making a visit to the show even more worthwhile and providing plenty of opportunities for a lively exchange of ideas.
As a result, Railtex this year features no fewer than 30 seminar sessions, including three keynote speeches, updates on major UK rail programmes, and technical and industry briefings. There will also be open forum discussions and presentations by the government’s export promotion agency UK Trade & Investment on overseas opportunities for UK companies.
Speakers will include senior figures helping to define the future shape of the industry, with presentations that offer a great chance to gain insights into trends in technology and policy. All these activities will take place in the exhibition hall and will be open to everyone attending the show, free of charge. We believe this year’s programme is the best ever, and we thank our many partners for their help in devising it. Get the best out of your visit to the show by checking programme details on the show website www.railtex.co.uk.
Everyone attending Railtex on the first day will be welcome to join us to relax over drinks and canapés at our Networking Reception, which starts at 4.45pm, and on Wednesday 13 May we will be staging our second Railtex Awards dinner. This will celebrate exhibitors’ achievements during an evening of good food and entertainment led by former Catchphrase game show host Roy Walker. The last of these events was hugely popular and proved to be a great way of bringing people together.
For your free visit to the show register online via www.railtex.co.uk. This will avoid the £20 entry fee payable on the door, and the e-badge you are issued with will give you instant access to the exhibition hall. The website also features a complete list of exhibitors.
There will be plenty to see and do at this year’s Railtex. We hope everyone taking part and attending the show has a very successful and enjoyable visit. Meanwhile, we have already started planning next year’s Infrarail and Civil Infrastructure & Technology Exhibition in London. Ask us about those events during your visit.
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