Astrak’s man in the know visits Rail Live ! 2025 in scorching Costa del Warwickshire.
To Rail Live 2025, held at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre a few weeks ago just 20 miles from home.
Given the temperatures I prepared as though I were off to Death Valley – sunglasses, water, suncream, water and more water. It was a well-attended event showcasing the latest in rail technology and safety practices and had grown enormously since last year and now boasted over 300 exhibitors and attracted a strong turnout despite sub-Saharan weather. Like quarrying’s Hillhead Show, Rail Live mixes the opportunity to see real plant and engage with industry professionals. Any show that demands you wear PPE needs to be taken seriously and for lovers of hot classrooms Rail Live also featured seminar discussions on topics like rail reform, rolling stock strategies, the future of open access and a host of other hot topics in this thriving industry including something called HS2.
Astrak have always had a relationship with rail supply professionals, and it was a pleasure to catch up with David Thomson of Thomson Engineering Design ( TED) over even more water.
TED and Unipart Powertrain have been collaborating on the development of a number of innovative tracked machines for the rail industry, three of which were on show at Rail Live having recently been launched onto the market. Sporting Astrak’s market leading Terratrack Plus anti detracking/anti vibration rubber tracks, rollers, idlers, drive sprockets and final drives specified and supplied by Astrak, the larger of the three machines is a semi-automatic sleeper laying machine capable of delivering up to 1,000 sleepers per hour precisely into position on a newly laid ballasted track bed. This unique machine is already receiving a great deal of interest from the industry with advance orders currently being taken.
The smaller tractor unit – again sitting on 100% Astrak specified and supplied undercarriage is a powered rail threader – a machine which places the rails onto the newly laid sleepers at high speed.
Finally, a third unit – fresh from development – and again with Astrak’s track components is a clever piece of kit which will join the rails to the sleepers, but which offers the output rate of the traditional (and VERY expensive) high output track laying trains at a fraction of the cost.
David was generous with his words –
“ The support of Astrak in the development of these machines has been outstanding both in terms of technical support and advice and in the rapid delivery of high-quality components for the track systems.
The small tractor unit posed a number of challenges which meant four track specification changes during the build. Astrak took this in their stride, patiently working with our team to get the right product and right specification. Their Rail Turnour
With support of this calibre, it is clear that we have found a supply chain partner for the long-term “
Elsewhere, Richard Smith of Site Arc was displaying his tracked mobile welder. Astrak worked with Richard from the early days and supplied all of the lower components – including meeting a special challenge of modifying the gearless motor he needed to feature a simple but unique rapid one-turn mechanism which disengaged the drive and made the unit towable. Important, Richard has insisted, if there’s breakdown whilst the machine is sitting on the West Coast Main with 17.05 from London bearing down on it.
McCulloch Rail’s involvement with Astrak was very much on display at Rail Live.
Firstly, their Mobile Turnout Solution – at 25T this unit can access and egress almost anywhere on the rail track system and can easily move pre-built panels in any direction before installation. This allows customers to handle their S & C installation with ease and without the need for large work areas or temporary track and the associated planning issues. Sitting on Astrak undercarriage throughout, the MTS features the hard-wearing pad-on polyurethane track shoes and chains that Astrak originally perfected for the road planing world.
McCulloch’s well established Panel Lifter was on display – smaller than the MTS but equally well-kitted out by Astrak this time with 300mm rubber bonded track shoes as the appropriate footwear.
Plenty more of Astrak’s product was evidence throughout the show – as a major after-market ( as well as OEM ) supplier to the rail industry Astrak’s undercarriage components – and especially their Duraline Plus bolt-on and clip-on rubber and PU track shoes – are go-to products within the industry.
