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September 4, 2025|News

Front Row Seat to Rail Innovation’s Future

Written by Jason Reiling, Senior Assistant Vice President - Business Development, and Niki Toussaint - Senior AVP Marketing & Education, MxV Rail
Aerial view of MxV Rail's test loops at the Pueblo campus. Brandon-Dean Morris/MxV Rail
RAILWAY AGE, SEPTEMBER 2025 ISSUE: The global rail research community will converge this November in Colorado Springs, Colo., for Rail Research Week 2025, a landmark event featuring the first-ever joint gathering of the International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) and the World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR).

Taking place Nov. 17-21, the event will feature a dynamic lineup of technical sessions and collaborative opportunities across the international rail sector. 

One of the week’s most anticipated highlights lies just a short drive away: a behind-the-scenes tour of MxV Rail’s newly unveiled research and testing campus. MxV Rail is proud to host this year’s event and open the doors to our industry-leading facilities. The technical site tour will offer attendees a rare opportunity to witness the tools, technologies and expertise driving the future of rail performance and safety.

New Era for Rail Research

Following a major relocation from our legacy site, MxV Rail purpose-built this new campus to accelerate innovation and meet the evolving needs of the rail industry. Designed from the ground up, the campus integrates decades of technical knowledge with next-generation tools and infrastructure. Today, it represents a bold step forward in how research is conducted, results are applied, and rail systems are improved globally. 

From fatigue testing to advanced electromagnetic technologies, our new environment is built to support the development and deployment of rail solutions for both freight and passenger operations. Attendees will see how MxV Rail conducts durability and safety assessments on critical rail components under real-world stressors; performs failure analysis and advanced materials testing to extend component lifespan and enhance reliability; and operates track systems engineered to meet and exceed industry standards—serving as test beds for validating designs, improving safety, and accelerating innovation.

Power, Precision, Performance

A cornerstone of our new capabilities, the Mechanical Laboratory supports rigorous component and system testing to ensure safer, more reliable rail operations across North America. This lab is equipped with high-capacity machines that provide exceptional accuracy and repeatability, including: 

  • Side Frame and Bolster Tester: Capable of 660,000 pounds loading; used for M-202 and M-203 certification and customized rail and component testing.
  • Truck Warp Stiffness Tester: Designed for large-scale truck/bogie deformation analysis.
  • Tie Wear Machine: Simulates long-term deterioration of tie and fastener systems under cyclic loading. 
  • Rolling Contact Fatigue Simulator: Replicates wheel-rail interactions to analyze wear, cracking and material flow—ultimately improving service life and safety.

Science Behind the Steel

At the heart of MxV Rail’s materials research is our advanced Metallurgy Laboratory, where science and engineering meet to address complex rail challenges. These capabilities help us uncover why materials fail and how to engineer stronger, more durable components that extend service life and reduce downtime. Key tools include:

  • A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with cryogenic capabilities for high-resolution imaging.
  • An Optical Emission Spectrometer for precise chemical analysis of conductive materials.
  • A full suite of non-destructive testing tools, including ultrasonic, eddy current, and magnetic particle testing.
  • Automated hardness testing and optical microscopy for steel cleanliness, microstructure analysis, and grain size evaluation. 

Performance in Motion

MxV Rail’s five test tracks offer unmatched dynamic, real-world evaluation opportunities. Custom-engineered to meet the industry’s most stringent standards, these loops provide a robust platform for validating designs, improving safety and advancing innovation in freight and passenger rail applications. Two standouts include: 

  • Curving Performance Track (CPT): Evaluates vehicle curving behavior with 3- to 12-degree curves, traction ratio testing, and compliance with Chapter 11 and M-976 standards.
  • Suspension Resonance Track (SRT): Multi-zone track that simulates pitch, bounce, twist, roll, yaw and sway, allowing for holistic evaluations of railcar performance over known track geometry defects.

Rail Research Week 2025 is more than a conference. It’s a celebration of rail innovation and collaboration. Register now and reserve your spot on the MxV Rail technical tour to experience our world-class capabilities firsthand. Questions? Contact us at askMxVRail@aar.com. We look forward to welcoming you to Colorado and showcasing the future of rail research in action.