🚆 Rail Live 2025: Connections, Optimism & Opportunities Ahead for CP7

Attending Rail Live 2025 at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre in Warwickshire was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new people across the rail industry.

This year’s event brought together a strong mix of suppliers, innovators, and rail professionals, once again proving why Rail Live remains a key calendar date for anyone involved in UK rail. From rolling stock to safety tech, plant equipment to workforce solutions, the sheer breadth of exhibitors made for a buzzing, productive atmosphere.

The live demonstrations were a particular highlight, showcasing the latest innovations in on-track plant, electrification equipment, and digital rail technologies. It was great to see so many companies actively driving forward change in safety, efficiency, and sustainability, three pillars that continue to shape the future of rail.

Although CP7 hasn’t kicked off as strongly as many were hoping, the overall vibe remained optimistic. Conversations with exhibitors and contractors revealed a sector that’s staying proactive, investing in capability, and preparing for when the real momentum begins.

It's clear that those who plan ahead and stay engaged will be in a strong position as project activity ramps up later in the control period. We had some valuable discussions around future staffing needs, including both blue and white collar roles, and how we can support clients with skilled, compliant, and ready-to-deploy personnel across the civils and rail infrastructure space. The demand for flexibility, responsiveness, and sector-specific knowledge is only growing and we’re excited to be part of that conversation.

Thanks to everyone who stopped for a chat, it was great to catch up with some familiar faces and start building new partnerships. Rail Live 2025 showed that despite uncertainty, the spirit of collaboration and innovation in rail remains strong. We’re looking forward to what the rest of 2025 brings.