A new innovation partnership will enable new technologies to be introduced to our railways faster

Finding ways to improve the climate resilience of rail infrastructure, and using digital technology to spot lineside problems before they cause delays, are among the broad ambitions of a new five-year partnership between Network Rail and Connected Places Catapult. 

The agreement will see the Catapult provide support to the rail operator as it seeks to increase the identification and adoption of promising new technologies. The Catapult is set to help identify challenges facing the sector, and introduce Network Rail to a series of small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) developing emerging technologies and solutions with huge potential. 

Network Rail’s research, development and innovation team will also be introduced to SMEs working in other transport sectors including highways, aviation and maritime, to explore whether new technology seen elsewhere could be introduced successfully to the railways. 

The new agreement aligns with Network Rail’s five-year Control Period 7 delivery plan until 2029 and follows a previous arrangement between the two companies which began in 2019 where new innovations were explored, tested and introduced to the railways through programmes including one known as ‘First-in-Class’. 

The Catapult will also provide horizon scanning and market scanning services for Network Rail to identify emerging needs and possible solutions. 

Further areas of focus for the next five years include helping Network Rail to identify match funding opportunities for future investment. 

In addition, Network Rail is also able to tap into the experience of SMEs working on the Station Innovation Zone at Bristol Temple Meads, where Network Rail and the Catapult have been working in partnership for the last three years. 

Building on a strong foundation 

Innovations explored in recent years include i-Monitor, a project with Network Rail, Hitachi and LNER where AI cameras were mounted on the roof of several trains to assess the health of overhead lines, to alert engineers to problems before assets ran the risk of failure. 

A further system called TrackWater saw probes inserted into drainage gullies beside the track in flood prone areas to monitor the build-up of silt. When levels increased, an alert was sounded to inform engineers that the assets needed cleaning. 

The partnership also introduced Network Rail to new and emerging approaches of flying drones to monitor the network, including both ‘beyond’ and ‘extended’ visual line of sight where the devices can fly further than a pilot can see them – and flying drones through tunnels. 

Connected Places Catapult’s Director of Transport and Infrastructure Business Engagement, Kristoff Van Leeuwen said: “I am delighted that Network Rail has entered into a renewed partnership with the Catapult for delivery of innovation services for the next five years. We offer a range of services to help clients make best use of emerging technologies and ideas offered by the market, and look forward to developing further new concepts that could improve infrastructure delivery on the railways.” 

Find out more about Connected Places Catapult’s work in rail, here.