The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced GBP 5 million in funding for 26 pioneering rail projects designed to improve passenger safety, reduce disruption and enhance the overall travel experience.
The funding is being delivered through the First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) competition, run in partnership with Innovate UK. Now in its latest round, the scheme provides grant support to projects that trial new technologies on the railway, increasing their chances of being adopted by train operators, freight companies and Network Rail.
This year’s winners focus on solutions that directly improve safety on rail platforms, protect passengers, and reduce incidents such as bridge strikes. The projects were chosen in line with the Transport Secretary’s directive to put passenger experience at the centre of every journey.
Examples of winning FOAK projects
One of the funded projects, IntelliPan Network, will deploy artificial intelligence to detect faults on overhead lines, reducing the risk of dewirements that can cause dangerous disruptions and delays.
Another, SafeRide 5G, will enable passengers to report incidents securely and privately using their personal devices via onboard Wi-Fi. The technology aims to improve response times while removing barriers to incident reporting.
Other projects will apply digital tools to prevent bridge strikes and accelerate maintenance processes, ensuring a safer and more reliable railway.
Building on past successes
Previous FOAK competition winners are already in operation across the UK rail network. Examples include the Portable Track Geometry Measurement System, which provides real-time track data to engineers. This innovation has helped reduce the time needed to lift speed restrictions or reopen lines, getting passengers moving more quickly.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said:
“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. These innovations are putting safety, reliability and passenger experience first, like IntelliPan Network using AI to detect faults on overhead lines, reducing disruption caused by dangerous dewirements. 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.”
Mike Biddle, Executive Director for Net Zero at Innovate UK, added:
“The innovations receiving support through this competition will contribute to a more accessible, safer, and efficient railway system throughout the UK. 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.”
Part of the Plan for Change
The FOAK programme demonstrates the government’s commitment to modernising rail and encouraging greater passenger use by trialling advanced technologies. The 26 successful projects began work on 2 September, with live testing to take place in the coming months.
By fostering industry collaboration and supporting new technologies, the programme aims to improve services, reduce disruption, and deliver the safer, more reliable railway envisioned in the government’s Plan for Change.
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