A new Business News Wales podcast explores how the Global Centre of Rail Excellence could support the re-industrialisation of the South Wales Valleys while helping Britain tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the future of rail.
The latest episode of Economy and Infrastructure Wales brings together Simon Jones, Chief Executive of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence, and Camilla Born, Chief Executive of Electrify Britain.
The discussion looks at the next phase of GCRE and how the project could combine rail innovation with energy, data centre development and wider industrial regeneration.
Simon outlines the ambition to create a major rail research, testing and innovation facility capable of serving businesses from across the UK and Europe, while also explaining how energy and property development could help create new financial foundations for the railway.
The conversation also explores the potential economic impact on the Western Valleys, including the prospect of around 1,400 jobs and more than £4 billion in wider economic value. Simon stresses that success must ultimately be measured by whether local communities can access the careers and opportunities created around the site.
Camilla focuses on the wider electrification opportunity and the need for Britain to accelerate innovation in rail. She argues that electrification should be seen not as sacrifice, but as a route to better, cleaner and more modern transport and infrastructure.
She also warns that Wales has a limited window in which to seize the GCRE opportunity, with other countries already investing in rail innovation and electrification.
The episode asks a central question: can GCRE become more than a rail testing facility and help form the basis of a new industrial cluster built around energy, technology and advanced transport?
