The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) is a £400m rail innovation, testing and showcasing facility being developed in South Wales, designed to serve rolling stock, infrastructure and technology providers from the UK and around the world. Chief Executive Simon Jones is leading its development from government backed concept to commercially funded, operational business, turning a former opencast site at the head of the Dulais and Swansea Valleys into a world class testing and innovation cluster.
Simon’s background spans senior roles in Welsh transport and infrastructure, including helping to establish Transport for Wales and the South Wales Metro, and he is now focused on securing investment, anchor clients and a partner that can develop complementary renewable energy and data centre assets at the GCRE site. Recent agreements with partners such as CAF, Hitachi, Network Rail and Transport for Wales underline how GCRE will support passenger delivery and the wider rail supply chain both in the UK and internationally.
GCRE offers a rare combination for investors: a purpose built, independent test environment, strong public backing and a CEO who understands both policy and commercial drivers. Under Simon’s leadership, the project aims to put Wales “at the heart of 21st Century sustainable transport innovation”, creating high value jobs and skills in a deindustrialised area and making the nation a global leader in rail research, standards and net zero technology development.
