Welsh Government presses ahead with Onllwyn test facility
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THE Welsh Government has submitted detailed proposals for its planned Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) on the site of the Nant Helen opencast mine and Onllwyn Coal Washery, near Neath.
If approved, GCRE will comprise two 25kV AC overhead electrified test loops, a 6.9km rolling stock test track with a maximum speed of 110mph and a low-speed, high-axleload infrastructure test track of 4.5km, a dual platform station test environment, operations and control offices.
It will also have staff accommodation, two shunters’ cabins, research, development, education and training facilities, rolling stock storage, sidings, and maintenance/cleaning/ decommissioning facilities, plus associated new access roads, power supplies and ancillary equipment.
Open to the entire rail industry, the ambitious scheme aims not only to provide world-class test facilities, but to act as a catalyst for the development of a rail technology hub in South Wales, creating high-quality jobs and education in a region suffering the long-term effects of industrial decline.
2023 opening
If the proposal is granted, the first phase is expected to open in 2023, comprising the 4.5km test loop, two 230m-long platforms, 12 full-length stabling roads and temporary staff facilities.
The high-speed test loop will open a year later, along with the two-storey control and staff buildings, a carriage wash plant, a four-road rolling stock maintenance shed with inspection pit road, high-level access gantries, lifting jacks and wheel/bogie drop and the infrastructure R&D test facility.
By 2025, there will be a further 10 through sidings, stationary test facilities and laboratories, rolling stock R&D and education buildings. Uncovered siding space for the storage of up to
400 vehicles is also planned, and provision will be made for the decommissioning of old rolling stock, including a dedicated building for the removal of contaminants such asbestos.
If required, third and fourth-rail electrification could be added to the test tracks at a later date.
The centre will be connected to the national rail network via the existing freight-only branch from Jersey Marine Junction on the Swansea District Line, Swansea Burrows Sidings and Neath & Brecon Junction.
A UK first
GCRE would be the UK’s first comprehensive R&D facility for testing rolling stock, infrastructure and technology.
Some testing is currently undertaken at Network Rail’s Rail Innovation Development Centre (RIDC) near Melton Mowbray, although this has limited capacity and offers only end-to-end running.
As a result, many new British trains have been tested at Siemens’ Wildenrath facility, as well as the Velim test track in Czechia, in recent years.