Green light for test centre

A NEW rail testing facility on a former opencast mining site at the head of the Dulais and Swansea Valleys has been given the seal of approval by local councillors. The Global Centre of Rail Excellence – a train, rail infrastructure and technology testing facility – will be located on the site of Nant Helen opencast mine in Onllwyn, which is currently operated by Celtic Energy.

The centre will support innovation in the UK and international rail industry by serving as a testbed for cutting-edge, green technologies, which will act as a driver for accelerated innovation in the rail industry.