Numerical simulations and laboratory measurements are obtained of the flow field and heat transfer in a linear cascade of turbine vanes, with and without secondary air injection through three discrete angled slots upstream of each vane. The hub endwall is axially profiled while the tip endwall is flat, with the hub endwall the focus of heat transfer investigation. Experimental measurements are compared to predictions of the steady-state flow obtained from solution of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Surface heat transfer characteristics predicted in the simulations are similar to measured values, with the most significant differences occurring in the cooling effectiveness. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.