Government allocates £5m for rail innovation projects

The UK government has allocated £5 million in funding to support 26 cutting-edge rail projects aimed at enhancing safety and improving the passenger experience. The funding has been provided through the First of a Kind (FOAK) competition, delivered by Innovate UK in partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT), Network Rail, and train operators.

The FOAK competition is a platform designed to bring innovative technologies to the railway sector, enabling new ideas to be tested and increasing their chances of adoption by train operators, freight companies, and Network Rail. This year's winning projects address some of the railway industry's key challenges, including passenger safety, platform safety, and incidents involving vehicles striking railway bridges.

Tackling Challenges with Innovation

Among the 26 projects, notable initiatives include IntelliPan Network, which uses artificial intelligence to detect faults on overhead lines, helping to mitigate service-disrupting and dangerous dewirements. Another project, SafeRide 5G, empowers passengers to privately and safely report incidents through onboard Wi-Fi, improving response times and enhancing overall safety.

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy highlighted the importance of these projects, stating: "The winners of this competition are taking cutting-edge technology to address some of the biggest challenges facing the rail industry, making a railway that works better for the people and goods using it."

He added, "Through this funding, we are building a platform on which innovation can thrive, giving new technologies a chance to succeed and driving economic growth as part of the Plan for Change."

Commitment to Modernizing Railways

The DfT emphasized that these innovations will enhance rail services and infrastructure, encouraging more people to use trains while fostering growth as part of the government’s Plan for Change. The projects also align with broader goals of modernizing the railway system to make it safer, more reliable, and more accessible for passengers.

Previous winners of the FOAK competition have demonstrated the program’s potential for fostering impactful solutions. For example, the Portable Track Geometry Measurement System, a past winner, provides immediate track information to engineers, enabling faster resolution of speed restrictions and line closures.

Mike Biddle, Executive Director for Net Zero at Innovate UK, underscored the value of collaboration in advancing rail technology. "The innovations receiving support through this competition will contribute to a more accessible, safer, and efficient railway system throughout the UK", he said. "The competition highlights the importance of collaboration with industry partners and focuses on delivering high-maturity demonstrations, ensuring seamless integration into the existing railway infrastructure."

Looking Ahead

The 26 projects have already commenced work, with testing scheduled to take place in the coming months. As these initiatives progress, they are expected to showcase the creativity and impact of their ideas through live demonstrations, potentially setting a new standard for railway innovation in the UK.

Through the FOAK competition, the government continues to demonstrate its commitment to trialing transformative technology to modernize the railway and enhance the passenger experience. This funding initiative reflects an investment in not just technological advancement, but also in the future of rail travel.