Newcastle Centre for Railway Research (NewRail)

NewRail testing facilitiesNewRail is a dedicated railway research centre with a vast range of expertise in diverse areas of the rail industry. The aim of our research centre is to develop and maintain the highest international standards of excellence in rail-related research.

Services Offered

NewRail has a wide experience in applied research for railways focusing on the development and strategic implementation of innovative technologies, with links to the major international players in industry as well as institutions and end users.

The core expertise of NewRail is focused on four main research priorities:

  • Rail Freight and Logistics Group
  • Rail Infrastructure Group
  • Rail Systems Group
  • Rail Vehicles Group

NewRail's laboratories allow us to provide high quality testing and consultancy services in the following areas:

  • Full range of mechanical testing and materials characterisation equipment including a falling weight impact rig
  • Equipment for resin infusion, vacuum bag moulding, press moulding, putrusion (thermoset and thermoplastic), powder impregnation and filament winding
  • Welding and joining techniques
  • Failure analysis: metals and composites
  • Modelling: finite element software, plant design, fire modelling of composites

In addition, NewRail has particular expertise in measuring the fire properties of materials. Test equipment includes:

  • Furnace
  • Jet heat flux up to 200 kW/sq.m
  • Cone calorimeter
  • Fire testing under load

Further information: