Old Dalby Test Track

Old Dalby Test Track
Name	Old Dalby Test Track
Location	Leicestershire, England
Length	13.5 km
Opened	1963
Owner	Network Rail (previous: British Rail, BR Research Division, Metronet)
Gauge	Standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line equipment (trial sections)
Website	Network Rail

Old Dalby Test Track is a dedicated railway testing facility in Leicestershire, England, used for vehicle trials, infrastructure experiments, and signalling validations. Established during the 1960s, the track has supported research by British Rail, trials for Railtrack, and contemporary programmes run by Network Rail and private contractors. The track's combination of isolated alignment, signalling flexibility, and proximity to major railway workshops has made it a persistent resource for rolling stock manufacturers such as Bombardier Transportation, Alstom, and Hitachi.

History

The route was originally part of the Midland Railway's mainline connecting Nottingham and Melton Mowbray and later formed part of the Great Central Main Line network before closures during the mid-20th century. In 1963 the redundant corridor was repurposed by British Rail Research Division to create a test environment, joining a lineage that includes Derby Works and the Research and Technical Centre (RTC). During the 1970s and 1980s the track hosted trials linked to national programmes such as the Advanced Passenger Train development and tests for InterCity coach designs. After the privatisation era, control passed through entities including Railtrack and later Network Rail, with significant activity during the 2000s involving contractors like Metronet and manufacturers including Siemens and Bombardier. The site has also been used for international demonstrations involving delegations from Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, and representatives from the European Commission research initiatives.

Location and Infrastructure

Situated near the village of Old Dalby, the facility lies between the stations at Asfordby and Edwalton on a 13.5 km alignment derived from the former main line. The alignment includes tangent sections, compound curves, and gradients enabling dynamic testing comparable to mainline conditions found on corridors such as the East Coast Main Line and West Coast Main Line. Track formation and civil engineering works have been upgraded at times to mirror standards applied at workshops like Brush Traction and depots such as Doncaster Carr. Sidings, crossovers, and headshunts permit isolated shunting operations similar to arrangements at Toton TMD and Derby Litchurch Lane Works. The site incorporates temporary depots for instrumented bogies, wheelset measurement rigs, and facilities for axleload tests comparable to those run at Wabtec test sites.

Operations and Test Programs

Operational programmes have ranged from vehicle acceptance tests and brake trials to track modulus assessment and fatigue testing of components. Manufacturers bring prototypes for commissioning similar to procedures used for Class 390 Pendolino and Class 395 Javelin acceptance, while research bodies conduct adhesion, noise, and ride quality assessments analogous to studies at Translink and RSSB sponsored projects. The track supports night and weekend intensive programmes to accommodate mainline fleet availability constraints similar to operations coordinated with National Rail operators. Data acquisition systems installed on site mirror those used in programmes with University of Birmingham and Imperial College London research partnerships.

Signalling and Electrification Trials

The facility has been a proving ground for multiple signalling systems including traditional semaphore adaptations and modern installations such as {European Train Control System} trials, route-based interlockings reflective of work with Siemens Mobility and Thales Group, and experiments involving axle counter technologies evaluated by Alstom. Overhead line equipment (OLE) has been installed for sections of the route to validate pantograph interaction and live-wire behaviour comparable to deployments on Great Western Main Line electrification phases. Trials have replicated scenarios used in resignalling programmes for corridors like North West Electrification and have supported testing of Automatic Warning System integrations similar to those mandated by Office of Rail and Road standards.

Rolling Stock and Notable Tests

The track has hosted a wide variety of vehicles spanning multiple eras: prototype units from British Rail projects, refurbished DMUs and EMUs evaluated alongside classes such as the Class 43 HST derivatives, modern multiple units from Bombardier and Hitachi, and freight wagons under fatigue loading comparable to cases studied by Freightliner and DB Cargo UK. Notable events include braking performance trials for tilting concepts akin to the Advanced Passenger Train, crashworthiness mock-ups evaluated against criteria used by RSSB, and high-speed endurance runs that informed specifications later applied to fleets serving routes like the Midland Main Line.

Ownership and Management

Ownership and oversight have transitioned from British Rail Research to private and public bodies following rail privatisation. Railtrack managed infrastructure intervals before Network Rail assumed long-term stewardship, collaborating with contractors and manufacturers for contract-based programmes. Management arrangements involve coordination with accreditation bodies such as Office of Rail and Road for safety compliance and conformity assessments, and with technical partners including Rail Safety and Standards Board and academic institutions for independent verification.

Future Plans and Proposals

Proposals for continued use include extending electrification, installing new signalling suites aligned with European Rail Traffic Management System migration, and enabling hydrogen and battery-electric vehicle trials similar to projects undertaken by Alstom and Hydrogen East Midlands initiatives. Interest from leasing companies and international manufacturers continues, with potential study partnerships envisaged with organisations such as Innovate UK and research networks linked to Horizon Europe programmes. Adaptive reuse scenarios also consider integration with training curricula provided by establishments like Derby College and specialist centres affiliated with UK Department for Transport policy frameworks.

Category:Railway test tracks in the United Kingdom