DYWIDAG’s digital monitoring technologies, which support safer and more efficient railway operations, were among the highlights at Rail Live 2026 – the largest outdoor exhibition of rail innovation and insights in the UK.
Hosted by Bauer Media in partnership with the Railway Industry Association (RIA), Rail Live took place in a working rail environment at Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. An estimated 7,000 professionals from across the industry attended the two-day event, which featured 200 exhibitors and more than 60 expert speakers, as well as product displays and demonstrations of ‘next generation’ technology.
Rob Paterson, UK & IE Operations Director at global engineering and construction technology specialists DYWIDAG, said: “Rail Live continues to be one of the most valuable events in the rail industry calendar. It provides a fantastic opportunity to meet customers, understand the challenges they’re facing and demonstrate how DYWIDAG’s engineering and monitoring solutions help improve safety, performance, and asset management.”
DYWIDAG’s stand P60 proved popular with attendees throughout the Rail Live exhibition. Network Rail representatives, rail contractors, consultants and specialist suppliers were among a steady stream of visitors. DYWIDAG’s market-leading visualisation platform, Infrastructure Intelligence (II), was the headline element of an exclusive showcase featuring innovative structural health monitoring technologies and geotechnical solutions, which also included:
- Smart Guard: A real-time event detection system that significantly advances traditional rail tilt monitoring by combining event-driven sensing, resilient communications, automated image capture, and DYWIDAG’s ‘Infrastructure Intelligence’ platform. Smart Guard detects tilt movement within 0.25 seconds and delivers operational alerts within six seconds, enabling faster, more confident decision-making supported by detailed insights
- Smart Void Monitor: This new product remotely detects and monitors subsurface voids and ground instability caused by passing trains. Its precise, real-time data provides critical insight into track performance, supporting safer infrastructure management and more reliable rail operations
- Smart Temp Monitor: Delivers real-time, actionable temperature data every 15 minutes, enabling rail operators to stay ahead of weather impacts for a safer, more resilient rail network
With climate change amplifying the risk of instability at vulnerable earthwork sites across the UK rail network, Rob Paterson said audience engagement levels at Rail Live signified visitors were ready to embrace smarter solutions to help safeguard the sector’s ageing infrastructure.
“The quality of conversations we had across the two days was extremely positive. Visitors were keen to understand how our solutions, particularly Smart Guard’s event detection and Smart Void’s monitoring technology, provided early warning of potential issues, and improved the management of vital rail assets.
“It was also encouraging to see growing interest in the wider role that digital monitoring can play in a move away from reactive maintenance towards a more predictive, risk-based approach to asset management.”
As well as being a key exhibitor, DYWIDAG sponsored the Railway Club’s ‘Big Railway Bash’ at Rail Live 2026. The networking event brought together more than 300 railway professionals for an evening focused on ‘connection, collaboration and celebrating’ the rail industry. As a not-for-profit organisation, the Railway Club is accessible to anyone looking to expand their network and grow their career within the rail sector.
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