Capability Statement

“Barrow Hill is a working railway depot with vehicles, sidings, workshops and running track available for hire. It is connected to, but off, the mainline railway network and so there is a high degree of flexibility in the testing that can be performed. Track failure investigations, wheel-rail adhesion trials, demonstration of track non-destructive examination technologies, and full-scale demonstrations of freight handling systems are just some of the recent trials that have been done on the site. A wide range of full-scale vehicle and track testing can be performed on the site. There is a high degree of flexibility, with users able to specify and perform testing that is bespoke to their requirements. The site is a 14 acre site just outside Chesterfield. The following are the main feature of this test facility: • Connected to the mainline railway network. • Undercover vehicle accommodation, including maintenance pits and ancillary services. • Over 1 mile of running track. • A wide range of vehicles and carriages. • Engineering workshops NewRail (http://www.newrail.org/) is the railway research centre at Newcastle University. NewRail are tenants at the Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre, and utilise the site for their full-scale testing and consultancy activities. In addition to the full-scale testing facilities available at Barrow Hill, NewRail also a range of portable and lab-based test and measurement equipment, including: • MiniProf profile measuring units for standard wheel and rail • Surtronic portable surface roughness unit • Phased-array ultrasonic inspection • Full range of mechanical testing and materials characterisation equipment including a falling weight impact rig • Equipment for resin infusion, vacuum bag moulding, press moulding, pultrusion (thermoset and thermoplastic), powder impregnation and filament winding • Furnace for small-scale fire reaction testing of materials. NewRail can also provide access to the extensive range of additional testing facilities and expertise available at Newcastle University. “