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On the Track: Rail LIVE's Trains & Rolling Stock
Visitors to Rail LIVE 2026 will have the opportunity to step on board a train and experience Porterbrook’s newly launched test track at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre.
Located at the home of Rail LIVE, the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre is the only continuous rail testing loop in the UK. Across both days of the event, Porterbrook will be inviting visitors to take a special trip around the facility, offering a unique opportunity to see the site in action.
Passengers on board will complete two loops of the testing facility, accompanied by an exclusive audio tour from a special celebrity guest. Multiple departures will run throughout each day of Rail LIVE, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to get involved.
Provisional Journey Times:
17 June & 18 June
- 09:55
- 11:30
- 12:15
- 13:00
- 13:45
- 14:30
Tickets for the test track tours are free and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis from the Porterbrook Ticket Office, located at E1. Trains will depart for the tour from Platform One.
Porterbrook said:
“We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at our Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre again this year for Rail LIVE 2026. We’ve been very busy since last year completing the significant construction of our brand-new electrified testing loop, the only one in the UK, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors on board to experience it for themselves, and learn all about the exciting developments at the site.”
Visitors interested in taking part are encouraged to visit E1 as early as possible on the day of their visit to secure a ticket. Once tickets are sold out, no further tickets will be available.
Step aboard Inspiration - the highly acclaimed Railway 200 Exhibition Train - as it makes one of its final appearances during its historic UK tour.
Displaying on both days at Rail LIVE, Inspiration celebrates the past, present and future of rail through interactive exhibits, historic artefacts and remarkable stories.
Co-curated with the National Railway Museum, the train has already welcomed 90,000 visitors at more than 50 locations - and Rail LIVE is its penultimate stop.
GB Railfreight has confirmed one of its brand-new bi-mode electro-diesel Class 99s will attend this year’s event, giving the industry an opportunity to one up close and learn more about how it can transform UK rail freight.
The ‘99s’ will be able to haul long-distance, heavy freight trains on electrified and non-electrified routes, reducing the need for locomotive changes mid-route and reducing carbon emissions.
Developed in partnership with Stadler and Beacon Rail, the first of the fleet of 30 is due to enter service later this year.
Heavy Haul Rail will be bringing its rebranded Class 66 (66537) to this year’s Rail Live. Heavy Haul Rail set up as a standalone freight operator in January after splitting from Freightliner Intermodal.
The company moves 17 million tonnes of freight a year in the industrial, energy and construction markets, as well as supporting the renewal and maintenance of rail infrastructure and supporting passenger train operators with services such as driver provision and route conducting.
Heavy Haul Rail operates 95 locomotives and more than 1,000 wagons, operating 250 trains per week with a workforce of 950 staff spread across 100 locations.
Representatives from Heavy Haul Rail will also be speaking at Rail Live, joining discussions about the future of hydrogen in rail and the future of freight traction in the UK.
Arrive on a dedicated charter service that will take visitors directly into the heart of Porterbrook's Long Marston.
For the first time since 2019, visitors to Rail LIVE can travel directly into the heart of the show at Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre - by train!
No transfers. No complicated connections. This dedicated high-speed charter will give visitors a seamless, stress-free journey directly from London Paddington Station, calling at Reading Station, straight to the heart of the UK’s largest rail exhibition.
In November 2025, it was awarded Innovation of the Year at the National Rail Awards, with the judges describing it as:
“A very impressive entry from an SME fighting against industrial inertia. The benefits in terms of cost reduction and productivity were clear to see, and the product was regarded as genuinely innovative.”
It has now been identified as a strategic OTP asset for some regions of Network Rail, and is having a significant impact on the UK rail industry.
Positive Traction's 08e is a pioneering battery-electric shunting locomotive created by re-engineering the iconic 08 shunter. The prototype was developed from shunter 08308 and replaces its diesel engine and obsolete parts with advanced battery technology, delivering zero emissions and lower noise pollution, whilst enhancing performance, safety, and operational efficiency.
The 08e features increased tractive effort, improved driver experience (more visibility, HVAC in cab and walkway with handrails) and modern diagnostics system, demonstrating how proven rail assets can be transformed for a low-carbon future, whilst retaining familiarity, like the same driving controls and overall dimensions for ease of transition.
Positive Traction take the best of what already exists and transforms them for a lower carbon, more cost-effective future.
Off the Track: Zones, Villages & Hubs
Network Rail will return to Rail LIVE 2026 with a diverse and engaging presence in Zone W – the Network Rail Village. The Network Rail Village brings together teams from across engineering, operations, digital and sustainability to offer a unique opportunity to explore how the railway is delivered, maintained and transformed.
A dedicated exhibition space designed specifically for smaller suppliers to engage directly with rail professionals, buyers and decision makers, while becoming part of a collaborative SME community.
A new Rail LIVE feature showcasing SME-led digital and technology innovation for the rail sector, discover cutting-edge digital technologies, meet SMEs specialising in digital solutions, at The Hitachi SME Digital & Tech Hub
Sponsored by Hitachi and positioned on Grand Avenue, the SME Digital & Tech Hub will give rail professionals a dedicated space to explore innovative solutions from forward-thinking SMEs helping shape a safer, smarter and more efficient railway, as well as hosting roundtables on both days of the event.
Roundtable Discussions
- Building a Collaborative Innovation Ecosystem
- Physical AI in Rail: Turning Ambition into Reality
Join lessons in habitat creation, live tree planting, the big Tree ID challenge and more!
The Sustainability Zone brings together experts, demonstrations and displays showing how environmental decisions are made across the railway - from habitat creation and tree establishment to boundary measures, vegetation management and incident response.
Explore biodiversity, circular economy, decarbonisation, social value and environmental management through a range of live demonstrations, expert-led talks, and interactive challenges across both days of Rail LIVE 2026.
And so much more...
7,000 rail professionals were in attendance in 2025, representing all aspects of the rail industry.
We'll hear from industry leaders from Network Rail, DfT, HS2, Freightliner and many more.