Train Innovators Share Funding Award

A total of 30 different, exciting, rail technology projects have been granted a share of £9 million in funding from the UK Department for Transport (DfT).

The new ideas are aimed at encouraging passengers back onto trains and assisting the rail industry by cutting costs, reducing carbon emissions and improving the passenger experience.

Plans range from a Loyalty Platform which will reward regular journeys – including the off-train section of the commute, as well as technology could greatly improve last mile travel by presenting passengers with information on changes in real-time.

One app, Window Seater, will provide information on local history and landmarks which can be accessed by passengers as the train passes particular spots. Similarly, another project will offer an enhanced tourist experience on the Perth to Inverness line via augmented reality, information and cultural audio.

The winners of the latest round of the First of a Kind (FOAK) competition were announced on Friday 2^nd July, by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. The competition is focused on developing pioneering technology and exceptional ideas that can improve journeys for travellers, encourage passengers back onto the network and reduce the environmental impacts of rail as we build back better from COVID-19.

According to the Minister, “The creative problem solving on display in this competition will be further encouraged by the reforms brought about by the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail”

Other winning projects include:

A system to monitor people flow, congestion points and behaviour at stations, so operators can remove bottlenecks and deploy countermeasures, helping people avoid crowds and restoring passenger confidence in the rail system post COVID-19

A scheme that provides an interchangeable interior train carriage for quick, deep cleaning and allows operators to rejig a train’s seating layout at short notice – reacting to demand, keeping passengers safe and freeing up space

A project that uses electromagnetism to deliver safe and predictable braking in harsh conditions, while improving acceleration

Simon Edmonds, Deputy Executive Chair and Chief Business Officer, Innovate UK, said, “As we move ever closer to getting past the pandemic, passengers are returning to the railway. To give them ever greater confidence that rail is safe and sustainable, we called upon UK innovators to come up with fresh ideas.

“Yet again,” he continued, “the response has been fantastic. Not only will passengers benefit from these great innovations, but business prospects are bright in this sector too.”

Start-up companies in the WiFi on Trains sector with a new project to showcase are invited to contact BWCS who will be highlighting new innovations in this very niche sector in our annual WiFi on Trans Conference.

Sign up now for this year’s WiFi on Trains Programme – www.Traincomms.com where you can also sign up for our Free WiFi on Trains News Service.

The 2021 conference (www.Traincomms.com ) is sponsored by Icomera, Nomad Digital, RADWIN, Westermo and GlobalReach Technology.

Also, for Wireless Suppliers who may be interested, BWCS has launched a brand new conference on the growing market for private wireless networks and 5G services at Ports – please see www.PortComms2021.com where the full programme is now available.