PORTERBROOK TO LAUNCH SECOND SUPPLY CHAIN SHOWCASE OPPORTUNITY
For Porterbrook, Innovation Hub 2019 was a resounding success. Launched at last year’s Modern Railways RVE show, the showcase for suppliers elicited a great response, and the concept took away a Highly Commended certificate at the Railway Industry Innovation Awards in June. Now the company is preparing to launch the call for ideas for Innovation Hub 2020.
This success came in response to a call from the supply chain. The message for Porterbrook was that it was difficult for companies to showcase their latest innovations in a real train. Porterbrook therefore used an off-lease Class 319 EMU and converted it to provide just the platform required, meaning companies could invite potential customers to see their products on show in an on-board environment.
The Innovation Hub is based at the Quinton Rail Technology Centre at Long Marston in Warwickshire, where it was displayed for the first time at the Rail Live exhibition in June but remains in situ until later in the year, providing the product showcase the supply chain has sought. Beyond that, an interactive website launching this autumn will provide a virtual Innovation Hub so the innovation…
