MEET THE BUYER

Meet the Buyer

RVE Meet The Buyer is a key element of the event and puts top rail industry buyers in front of the suppliers that they need to see. The event is run in partnership with Rail Forum Midlands and the Department for International Trade. During the course of the 2019 event, no fewer than 310 appointments involving 41 buyers from 20 companies and four countries were scheduled and completed.

The application process for the 2020 event has now launched, and suppliers can register to participate on the Rail Forum Midlands website at www.midlandsrail.co.uk/rvemtb. A new two-stage application process this year will enable suppliers to better target their applications at specific buyers, improving the chances of a success application. Suppliers must register for the event by 4 September, with the second application stage closing on 11 September.

Companies who are not Modern Railways RVE exhibitors or members of Rail Forum Midlands will this year be required to pay a small administration fee to participate in RVE Meet The Buyer, to reflect the cost of organising the event. This fee will be collected by RFM, and suppliers required to pay this fee must pay the invoice prior to progressing to the application stage.

With the limitations posed by Covid, it is likely we will be able to host fewer appointments this year, making it important suppliers submit strong and targeted applications. Modern Railways RVE exhibitors and Rail Forum Midlands members will benefit from exclusive best practice guidance in submitting their application, as well as an online support webinar to be held in mid-August.

A list of participating buyers for the 2020 show is shown below and will be updated as new buyers are added.

Key dates for RVE Meet The Buyer 2020

• 4 September: registration closes
• 11 September: applications close
• 24 September: buyers receive all completed applications
• 29 October: buyers and supplier itineraries issued
• 5 November: Modern Railways RVE show including RVE Meet The Buyer event

Please note that due to the logistics involved in organising RVE Meet The Buyer there can be no extension to the deadlines for registration and application.

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  Formed in 1994, Angel Trains owns and maintains over 5,250 passenger vehicles in the UK. It employs around 140 staff at offices in London and Derby. The company has acted as an enabler for £5 billion of investment in new trains and modernisation of existing rolling stock and invests around £80 million per annum in ongoing maintenance of fleets.

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  Bombardier has a substantial UK order backlog for new fleets based on its Aventra EMU platform for Crossrail, London Overground, Greater Anglia, South Western Railway, West Midlands Trains and c2c, being built out of its long-standing factory in Derby. Bombardier is bidding for the HS2 rolling stock contract in a joint venture with Hitachi.

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  The Spanish manufacturer is delivering new rolling stock for several UK operators, and in autumn 2018 began production at its new factory at the Celtic Business Park site in Newport, South Wales. It has won orders to build new DMUs for Transport for Wales and metro trains for the Docklands Light Railway and is also bidding for the HS2 rolling stock contract.

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  Chrysalis Rail is a UK-based rolling stock service supplier, committed to delivering competitive and outstanding quality solutions to the rail industry. In addition to its established rolling stock bases at Long Marston and Leeds, it has recently taken over and reopened the former Great Western Railway HST maintenance depot at Landore in South Wales.

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  One of the three original rolling stock leasing companies, Eversholt Rail has a portfolio of 22 separate passenger fleets comprising over 3,500 vehicles. It employs approximately 115 professional, technical and support staff.

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  Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe manufacturing facility in County Durham is now an established part of the UK rolling stock scene. Following delivery of inter-city trains to Great Western Railway, LNER and TransPennine Express, Hitachi is
  and is currently completing the build of Azuma trains for LNER. Hitachi has ordered from Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway and East Coast Trains. It has also submitted a joint bid with Bombardier for the HS2 rolling stock contract.

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  Porterbrook has owned and leased rolling stock and related equipment for 25 years. The company has recently taken a fresh look at its approach to the industry and is emphasising its role as a long-term custodian of rolling stock. It is also developing a range of innovative products, including the Class 769 Flex bi-mode/tri-mode train as well as the Class 799 HydroFlex hydrogen-powered unit in partnership with the University of Birmingham.

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  Swiss national operator SBB transports over 1.25 million passengers and 205,000 tonnes of freight each day. SBB operates the core domestic inter-city network in Switzerland and international high-speed services to neighbouring countries in conjunction with other national operators. Freight operator SBB International operates between northern and southern Europe using its own locos and crews. The company has over 32,300 employees and is currently focusing on its SBB 2020 strategy, designed to meet the needs of the modern passenger in the light of changing mobility demands.

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  Siemens Mobility has more than 2,500 employees in the UK alone. In addition to its involvement in the Deep Tube programme for London Underground, the company has submitted a bid for the HS2 rolling stock contract.

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  The Swiss manufacturer is currently delivering trains for Greater Anglia, the Glasgow Subway and Merseyrail. It also has a substantial order for Transport for Wales, which includes tram-trains, tri-mode and diesel-electric multiple-units, and recently won the contract to build new trains for the Tyne & Wear Metro.

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  With offices in the UK and Australia, Transport Design International Ltd (TDI) is a world-leading industrial design and engineering consultancy. Founded in 1987, and privately owned, the company specialises in developing bespoke solutions for road, rail and marine-based transport applications. Working with strategic partners, TDI is also able to design and supply individual products, systems and even complete vehicles.

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  TfL is the authority responsible for delivering Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s strategy and commitments on transport. It is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Capital’s public transport network and manages London’s main roads. No other city is as recognised by its transport system as London. TfL is investing heavily to upgrade its network, including major investment in new tube, DLR and London Overground trains.

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  TVS Supply Chain Solutions is a global organisation that provides end-to-end supply chain management services including freight forwarding and last mile supply. It addresses supply chain challenges for international organisations, government departments, large and medium sized businesses and trade on an ability to reduce clients' operating costs and improve their performance through efficient solutions.

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  Part of the Unipart Group, Unipart Rail is a global business that brings together manufacturing, logistics and consultancy.