The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has announced that Jeremy Westlake, incoming CEO of Network Rail, will speak at the RIA Annual Conference on 6 November at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, London Tower Bridge. He succeeds Sir Andrew Haines OBE, who retires in October. The event will welcome over 300 industry professionals across two days, 5-6 November.

This year’s theme is ‘Resetting the Railways for Growth: Harnessing the Power of the Supply Sector’. The conference will open with Transport Secretary Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP delivering the first keynote on 5 November, followed by the Shadow Transport Secretary. Darren Caplan, RIA Chief Executive, said: “It’s great to have Jeremy Westlake, the new CEO of Network Rail from October, taking part in the RIA Annual Conference. Jeremy has a fantastic pedigree as Chief Financial Officer at Network Rail, and this will be one of the first chances the railway industry will have to hear from him as its leader, about his thoughts on Network Rail, rail reform and Great British Railways, and on engaging with the UK supply sector.”

Day one includes sessions from industry leaders including Marie Daley, COO of Transport for Wales, and Andy Mellors, MD of Avanti West Coast. Panel discussions will address the future of rail and the role of nations and regions. The day closes with a keynote from Mark Wild OBE, CEO of HS2, during the evening dinner.

On 6 November, highlights include a live podcast with Green Signals and keynotes from Laura Shoaf CBE, Chair of Shadow Great British Railways, and Tim Shoveller, CEO of Freightliner. The final sessions feature Steve White, MD of South Eastern Railway, Shamit Gaiger OBE, MD of West Coast Partnership, and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, DL. Jeremy Westlake will join a fireside chat before Noel Travers, RIA Chair, delivers the closing remarks.

Backplane Systems Technology presents the VECOW IVX-1000, a high-tech in-vehicle computing workstation that is designed to meet the demands of the rail industry.

Engineered with Intel Core i9/i7/i5/i3 processors from the 14th generation and integrated with the Intel R680E PCH, this workstation-grade platform supports CPUs with a maximum TDP of 65W, delivering robust performance for rail applications.

For those seeking enhanced AI capabilities, the IVX-1000 optionally supports advanced NVIDIA Quadro MXM graphics.

Designed to withstand the harsh and dynamic conditions of the rail environment, the IVX-1000 boasts a fanless, dust-resistant design that complies with EN50155:2017 standards.

Its wide 16V to 160V DC power input, along with 4kV DC isolation and up to 500V surge protection, ensures reliable operation under variable power conditions. The system also includes software ignition power control and optional UPS support, ensuring uninterrupted performance crucial for rail operations.

In the rail industry, reliable connectivity is essential. The IVX-1000 offers eight independent 2.5GigE LAN ports, including 4 with IEEE 802.3at PoE+, and an additional GigE LAN port, providing robust communication and data transfer capabilities necessary for real-time monitoring and control.

Moreover, it supports multiple wireless configurations, including 5G, WiFi, 4G, and LTE, catering to both mobile and fixed rail applications.

Security and network integrity are critical in rail operations, and the IVX-1000 addresses these needs with support for Intel vPro, TCC, Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), and TPM 2.0. For AI-driven tasks, the workstation is equipped with Intel Deep Learning Boost and the Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit. The optional VHub AIoT Solution Service further enhances its AI capabilities, enabling advanced edge AI applications tailored to the rail sector.

With its exceptional reliability, high-performance computing, and versatile connectivity, the VECOW IVX-1000 is the perfect solution for boosting productivity, safety, and efficiency in rail operations.

Key Features

• Workstation-grade Platform : Intel Core i9/i7/i5/i3 Processor (14th gen, codename : RPL-S Refresh/RPL-S/ADL-S) running with Intel R680E PCH supports max 65W TDP CPU
• Optional supports outstanding AI computing productivity by advanced and compact NVIDIA Quadro MXM graphics
• 16V to 160V DC Power Input with 4kV DC Isolation, up to 500V Surge Protection, Software Ignition Power Control, optional UPS supported
• Fanless design for railway in-vehicle applications, fully compliant with EN50155 : 2017
• 8 Independent 2.5GigE LAN M12 X-coded with 4 IEEE 802.3at PoE+, 1 2.5GigE LAN, 1 GigE LAN, 4 Isolated COM
• 2 Front-access 2.5″SSD/HDD Tray, multiple 5G/WiFi/4G/3G/LTE/GPRS/UMTS
• Supports Intel vPro, TCC, Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), and TPM 2.0

Optional VHub AIoT Solution Service supports OpenVINO based AI accelerator and advanced Edge AI applications.

• Almost 40,000 people will get to see more than 140 rail vehicles across Alstom’s 90-acre site in Derby
• Three-day event marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway

Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, will welcome almost 40,000 railfans from around the globe this weekend, as its Derby Litchurch Lane Works in the UK hosts the world’s largest-ever gathering of historic and modern trains – The Greatest Gathering.

Alstom’s three-day sold-out charity extravaganza forms part of the wider festivities for Railway 200, a year-long celebration marking the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825 – and a journey that gave birth to the modern railway.

“Alstom’s roots in the UK go right back to 1825, when Locomotion No. 1 made its historic journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Through successive mergers the locomotive’s builder – Robert Stephenson and Company – became part of Alstom in 1989 and we are beyond proud to carry that legacy of ingenuity forward,” said Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom.

He added: “The Greatest Gathering is a once-in-a-generation celebration of Britain’s railway heritage and future, and it simply wouldn’t have been possible without the extraordinary support of so many. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to every Alstom colleague, organisation, rail operator and exhibitor who has helped bring our vision spectacularly to life. Together, we’ve created the world’s largest gathering of historic and modern railway vehicles, and a truly unforgettable experience for tens of thousands of visitors, alongside those watching online at home.”

The Greatest Gathering takes place on Friday 1, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August 2025 at Alstom’s historic Litchurch Lane Site in Derby. Britain’s biggest and oldest remaining train factory will be home to more than 140 rolling stock exhibits from the past, present and future of the railways, with the site itself opening to the public for the first time in almost 50 years.

Highlights across the weekend will include:

• A cavalcade of steam locomotives: The 200-year-old Locomotion No. 1 will be joined by the UK’s oldest operating standard gauge engine, Furness Railway No. 20, Derby-built Midland Railway 1000 Class No. 1000 and the world-famous Flying Scotsman. Locomotion No. 1 will appear beside a Derby-built Alstom Class 720 Aventra train, placing one of the world’s oldest locomotives next to one of the UK’s newest at The Greatest Gathering

• A lineup of high-speed trains including Alstom-built Class 390 Pendolino Progress – the UK’s first fully wrapped Pride train – which will appear alongside Eurostar power car 3999 and Derby-designed Class 43 High Speed Trains (HSTs)

• A host of trains debuting new names and liveries, including two Class 50 locomotives that will showcase striking wraps designed especially for The Greatest Gathering in partnership with Aura Brand Solutions

• Visitors will get the opportunity to ride on steam, diesel and electric-hauled trains, including a Class 345 Derby-built Alstom Aventra train along Litchurch Lane’s 1.4 km-long test track. Meanwhile, Prince, the world’s oldest operating narrow-gauge locomotive from 1863, will be carrying passengers throughout the jamboree

• Every day a packed timetable of talks and performances from famous faces and industry insiders will be taking place in the specially-constructed Mobility Theatre. The space will also host the UK premiere of feature-length documentary An Unlikely Fandom: The Impact of Thomas the Tank Engine on Saturday 2 August, which will be followed by a Q&A with its US-based filmmakers

• At the heart of The Greatest Gathering, inside one of Litchurch Lane’s vast workshops, lies a vibrant and future-focused family-friendly zone: the STEM Hub. Designed to ignite curiosity and ambition among visitors, this interactive space showcases the power of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in shaping the future of rail and sustainable mobility

• Another workshop on site hosts the Model Railway Village in partnership with Key Model World. From legendary music producer – and renowned railway modeller – Pete Waterman’s outstanding Making Tracks 3 in OO-gauge, to the biggest brands in model manufacturing, high quality layouts and model makers

• Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, the Railway 200 exhibition train, Inspiration, will showcase rail’s impact over the last two centuries inside a series of redesigned Mark 3 carriages that were originally built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works

• Finally, fairground attractions, family entertainment, street food and live music will also add to the festival feel

Enjoying this article? Sign up for our FREE newsletter!

“In this year of Railway 200 celebrations many imaginative and innovative events are being staged to mark this key anniversary in the history of railways. The Greatest Gathering does so on a huge scale, and promises to enter the history books as the largest exhibition of railway equipment ever staged in the UK. The whole rail industry has come together to back the vision of the organising team to create something truly special, which is wonderful to see as we move forward into the new future with the creation of Great British Railways,” said Lord Peter Hendy, UK Rail Minister.

He added: “I very much hope the thousands of you who were fortunate enough to secure tickets enjoy the display, which aims to really highlight the railway of the past, present and future, and hopefully inspires some of the diverse younger generations to become the railway professionals of the future.”

Covering 90 acres, Derby Litchurch Lane Works is one of the world’s largest rolling stock factories, and the only UK facility that designs, engineers, builds and tests trains for domestic and export markets. The factory was opened by the Midland Railway in 1876 and the city of Derby has been building trains continually since 1839. In 2022, Derby was chosen by the Government as the home of Great British Railways following a vote by the public between contender cities.

“I would like to warmly congratulate the team at Alstom as they celebrate 200 years of railway history in Derby, and look forward to a bright future of designing and building the next generation of trains, and supporting the decarbonisation of transport for decades to come. Alstom Derby’s key contribution to delivering major transport projects across the UK shows how bilateral investment can be a driver for growth, innovation and improved connections between people,” said Her Excellency Madame Hélène Duchêne, French Ambassador to the UK.

Her Excellency added: “In this regard, Alstom’s manufacturing presence in the UK echoes the British and French Governments’ shared commitment to supporting rail travel, both domestically and through the Channel Tunnel. Following the UK-France Summit on 10 July, our two countries committed to deepening their cooperation to foster the growth of Cross-Channel rail traffic, including by working to reduce barriers for potential new market entrants.”

All profits from The Greatest Gathering will be split between Railway 200’s five chosen charities – Alzheimer’s Research UK, Railway Benefit Fund, Railway Children, Railway Mission and Transport Benevolent Fund CIO – and railway heritage partners.

A full list of exhibits on display at Alstom presents The Greatest Gathering can be found on the event’s official website: www.alstom.com/greatest-gathering

Want to get more great stories from across the rail industry sent straight to your inbox? Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter!