BCIMO

#didyouknow: In 1994, a significant shift occurred in the British rail industry with the privatisation of British Rail? 🤝 Ownership of the track and infrastructure was transferred to Railtrack, leading to a highly fragmented network as operations were divided among more than 100 companies 🔀 This marked a new era in the railway’s governance and management, leading to diverse ownership models and increased competition within the industry 🏁 #railprivatisation #historyofrail #railtrack #trainoperatingcompanies #ukrailnetwork

A really busy morning inside - and outside! - the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre, as we welcomed visitors to the 'Electrifying Transport in the Black Country' event. The event was designed to showcase a range of electric vehicles and micro-mobility options, alongside technologies to support EV rollout in the area, as part of our regional road (pun intended!) to net zero - more in our forthcoming news article... 🚗 Black Country Transport Coventry University West Midlands Combined Authority Dudley Council Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) City of Wolverhampton Council

Today we’re hosting the Electrifying Transport in the Black Country event from 9.30am - 1pm. A fantastic line up of electric vehicles, e-scooters & e-bikes to test drive as well as a range of exhibitors to help with your electric journey 🚗🚲🛴 Free to attend, no ticket required, more info here https://lnkd.in/e3YitQTH Black Country Transport Coventry University West Midlands Combined Authority Dudley Council Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) City of Wolverhampton Council

This week the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre opened its doors for the first in a series of monthly facility tours. ‘Behind the Scenes at BCIMO’ offers an insight into our unique, world-class centre for rail innovation in the heart of the Black Country, and an opportunity to talk to the BCIMO team about the work we do across our portfolio of products, services and programmes. Within our first group, we were delighted to welcome visitors from Desoutter Tools, Oleo International and Sunbelt Rentals, Inc..  After coffee and networking, our visitors first explored the Centre’s Meeting & Event Spaces, before a tour of our comprehensive Rail Development & Test Site. Within four specific zones, the north end of the Site includes the expansive triple height Engineering Hall, our first of a kind Rail Test Loop, a multi-modal Mobility Hub, rail-specific Rapid Charger, and standalone Workshop. Further along the 2.2km Rail Test Track, we took our visitors down to the Victorian-built 870m Tunnel, noting the track beyond with custom-designed Split-Level Platform in the final zone. Alongside the infrastructure, our Site also includes a range of vehicles – including our iconic T69 Tram – and rail-specific equipment. 🚉 All aspects of the Rail Development & Test Site are available for clients to hire, from short tests and demonstrations to longer-term development and projects. Further information and quotes for use are available on request and our engineering team will be happy to discuss details of our facilities and equipment with you beforehand. But if you’d like to visit the Site, then we’d love to see you at a forthcoming ‘Behind the Scenes…’ event. Richard Green, David Challoner, Graeme Cook, James Jackson MSc BEng (Hons), Matthew Hood To read more about our facility tours and RD&TS ➡ https://lnkd.in/eYA-ABfy To book a place on a forthcoming Behind the Scenes tour ➡ https://lnkd.in/eBSCWGag To take an indepth look at the RD&TS facilities at the VLRNIC ➡ https://lnkd.in/eJHk8Rf4

🚂 We at BCIMO are absolutely delighted to be a part of Railway 200 and are currently planning a Family Charity Day in May 2025 to help celebrate this momentous occasion, as well as raise money for some very worthy causes. 📅 Date and further details to follow very soon so watch this space! 📸 In the meantime, if you know of any budding railway photographers please encourage them to enter the 'Young Rail Photographer of the Year' competition run by the National Railway Museum and the Railway Photographic Society. All photographers aged 25 and under are invited to enter and submit work surrounding this year’s theme, Railway 200. ℹ For more details please visit https://lnkd.in/euWWZKbs

Are you attending the 'Electrifying Transport in the Black Country' event taking place at BCIMO on Thursday 12th September, from 9:30 - 13:00? If so, you need to make sure you come prepared ready to test drive! Follow these simple steps below, to speed up your check in process; ✔ Download a DVLA licence check code before you come and bring this together with the last 8 characters of your driving licence number. This will speed up your registration on the day. Your code will be valid for 21 days. View your driving licence information - https://lnkd.in/ed_A6haG ✔ Bring your driving license and National Insurance number on the day and we can do an online check there and then. Lots of local dealers will be on site with a range of the latest electric vehicles, so feel free to speak to the dealers when registered and do as many test drives as you wish! 🚗 Not yet registered and interested in find out more, visit the event page for your free ticket ➡ https://lnkd.in/e6u_j_XQ Black Country Transport BCIMO Coventry University Transport for West Midlands Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands Innovate UK West Midlands Combined Authority Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Kester Sleeman Luke Hadlow Sonja Dembo Helena Davies Olivia B. Helen Wolf Tessa Lukehurst Lindsey Martin Katie Miller-White

We were delighted to feature in Sonia Kumar Labour MP for Dudley's maiden speech at the House of Commons on Wednesday 4 September 2024! You can watch her speech here ➡ https://lnkd.in/e_HG7Nmt

This Thursday,12th September! 🚗 🚲 🛴 Electrifying Transport in the Black Country 9:30 - 13:00 taking place at BCIMO Immerse yourself in the world of electric vehicles (EVs), eBikes and eScooters with hands-on test drives and the opportunity to meet local providers to support your electric journey. FREE tickets ➡ https://lnkd.in/e6u_j_XQ Featuring: 🚗 Tesla Model Y & 3 🚗 Ford e-Custom, Mustang Mach-e & e-Transit 🚗 Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 & Kona 🚗 Mercedes eSprinter & eVito 🚗 Renault Megane, Scenic & Rafale 🚗 KIA E-NIRO, EV6, EV9 & SOUL 🚗 MG4 & MG ZS EV 🚗 Vauxhall e-Corsa & Mokka 🚗 BMW i4 🚗 MINI Countryman 🚗 TX electric Taxi 🚗 KGM TorresEVX 🚲 West Midlands Cycle Hire Exhibition stands from: 🌱 EON Drive 🌱 Trojan Energy 🌱 AceOn Group 🌱 TfWM 🌱 Char.gy 🌱 Walsall College 🌱 C&W Business Solutions 🌱 Kerbocharge 🌱 Connected Kerb 🌱 Gamma/Wenea 🌱 CUSL 🌱 BCT/Dudley Council 🌱 EZOO 🌱 BCIMO 🌱 Midlands Truck & Van 🌱 Holdcroft Renault 🌱 Dudley Motor Group Black Country Transport Coventry University Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands Transport for West Midlands Kester Sleeman Sonja Dembo Luke Hadlow Helena Davies Olivia B. Helen Wolf Katie Miller-White Tessa Lukehurst Lindsey Martin

#didyouknow: The Black Country was also known for the manufacture of marine chains and anchors? ⛓ ⚓ When the White Star Line needed an anchor for its new vessel, RMS Titanic, it approached Netherton business, Noah Hingley and Sons Ltd 🤝 The 16-tonne anchor produced at its iron foundry was dragged to Dudley Railways Station's goods yard by 20 shire horses! 🐴 In 1912, RMS Titanic sank after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean. Over 1500 passengers and crew perished 🚢 😢 #historyofblackcountry #anchor #rmstitanic #ship #dudley

It’s not long before we host the 18:00 Young Professionals Networking event hosted by Talbots Law, alongside their partners at Azets. With canapés and a full service bar, it’s the perfect environment for laid-back and pressure free networking. Free tickets can be booked via the link below.