A new Rail Technology Hub will be a centre of excellence for innovation, engineering and collaboration.
DB ESG, a leading provider of rolling stock engineering solutions, has opened a new facility, the Rail Technology Hub, to drive technological advancements in the UK rail sector.
Located next to DB ESG’s existing offices at the RTC Business Park in Derby, the hub marks a significant investment by DB ESG. This large-scale facility will help support its customers with cutting-edge solutions that enhance efficiency, sustainability and longevity of rolling stock.
“The Rail Technology Hub represents our commitment to staying at the forefront of rail innovation,” said Nick Goodhand, managing director of DB ESG. “It’s a strategic expansion that enables us to better serve our customers, collaborate with industry partners, and develop technologies that will shape the future of rail.”
The Rail Technology Hub is over 18,000 square feet in size and will house the company’s advanced digital engineering laboratory and will have dedicated engineering spaces and a large workshop with mainline access and two roads with inspection pits.
The new facility follows DB ESG’s rapid business growth and increasing customer demand across several specialist areas:
Digital engineering: DB ESG’s pioneering digital engineering team has been growing since it started investigating how 3D scanning and printing could be used to combat obsolescence in the sector in 2018. Since then, it has produced thousands of components for many different rail stakeholders. The new facility will host an expanded digital engineering laboratory with additional 3D printers and workspace.
Project services team: With increasing demand for spares holding, modification equipment, turnkey installations and repairs, the team will benefit from a larger workshop to support its growing portfolio.
Future technologies team: Focused on sustainability and innovation, this team is deploying solutions such as hydrogen linked with carbon capture devices for internal combustion engines and advanced data systems for predictive maintenance and operational efficiency. The new facility provides space to work on these new technologies, as well as to test and challenge their viability.
Battery development: In partnership with Turntide Technologies, DB ESG is advancing deployment of battery technology and will use the new facility to build, test and refine battery boxes for UK rolling stock.
Customer collaboration: The Rail Technology Hub will also provide space for project collaboration with key industry partners.
By bringing together its engineering, digital and research functions under one roof, DB ESG is aiming to strengthen its role as an innovation enabler within the UK rail industry. The Rail Technology Hub will facilitate the development of new materials, digital tools and sustainable power systems, supporting efficiency improvements and environmental goals.
