On Track for Opportunity: Reflections from RSN 2025 in Derby
There’s something special about the Rolling Stock Networking (RSN) event – and this year’s gathering in Derby proved once again why it’s such a valuable date in the diary for rail sector suppliers, buyers, and innovators.
Industry Wales Supply Chain Development Manager, Mike Gillard, went along.
Held every July, RSN offers an affordable, high-impact platform for businesses of all sizes across the rail industry. It’s a place to meet people, talk shop, and get a real sense of what’s happening across the supply chain. The atmosphere this year was buzzing, and from the moment the doors opened it was clear the appetite for collaboration and conversation is as strong as ever.
While there, I caught up with Mark Isaac from Rail Installations & Technical Services (RITS) – a proud Welsh company with more than 30 years' experience in specialist train toilet systems. Mark’s been attending RSN for several years now and described it as “a low-cost event, which is great for small businesses. The footfall is good, the quality of exhibitors is good, and it’s a lovely informal arrangement to see people, to talk about business and find out what’s going on.”
That mix of informality and industry focus is what makes RSN work. You’re just as likely to have a technical discussion as you are to strike up a future partnership over a coffee.
Mark and his team at RITS were showcasing their rapid-turnaround toilet servicing – covering everything from PCC and Transcal pods to vacuum and EVAC systems. “We can either turn up with our mobile unit and repair it on-site,” Mark explained, “or we can collect it by courier, bring it back to the depot, service and return it – all within 24 hours.” That responsiveness is critical in rail, where downtime means disruption.
“You don’t deal with companies – you deal with people”
RITS is also collaborating with Dutch company SaniTroy on a new generation of self-cleaning, land-based toilets – with 98% uptime and no need for regular manual cleaning. “That’s the future,” said Mark. “And we’re proud to be part of it.”
Beyond the stand, I had great conversations with CAF Rail, Schaltbau, and AB Connectors (part of TT Electronics) – all of whom were at the event and actively engaging with supply chain partners. The level of access you get at RSN – to buyers, engineers, and fellow suppliers – is what makes it so valuable. It’s not about polished pitches or sales pressure. It’s about relationships.
As Mark put it, “You don’t deal with companies – you deal with people. You find out what the customer really wants, and you evolve the solution to meet that need.”
That ethos runs through the event itself. If you’re a Welsh business working in or around rail, RSN offers a rare opportunity to show what you can do, meet the right people, and spark conversations that could lead somewhere exciting.
The next Rolling Stock Networking event takes place on 3 July 2026, and we’ll be encouraging more companies from Wales to get involved – either as exhibitors or attendees.
👉 To find out more about RSN, visit www.rsnevents.co.uk
Watch this video with Mike Gillard, Supply Chain Development Manager at Industry Wales, chatting with Mark Isaac from Rail Installations & Technical Services (RITS)
*Blog created with the assistance of AI tools