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Railway Innovation Strategy: Getting ready for Great British Railways

RIA’s 2022 paper, ‘A Railway Innovation Strategy’8 explored innovation within our industry and the barriers to getting new products and services into the railway network. It underlines that more collaboration is needed to help businesses bring news ideas to market more quickly. It is also noted that a culture of innovation will be required to create a more costefficient, sustainable, and accessible network for passengers under GBR – and that there should be a guiding mind for this.

It also emphasised the benefits that investment in railway innovation can bring. For example, it is estimated that Network Rail’s £245m Research and Development funding between 2019 and 2024 will create a gross value added of £1.6bn over 20 years.

The strategy sets out six key asks for the Government and the rail industry to consider:

1. Increase Government investment in rail research, development, and innovation.

2. Strengthen support during the innovation rollout phase.

3. Lead a concerted cross-industry effort to identify and overcome barriers to successful adoption.

4. Provide a pathway and funding for radical innovation.

5. The railway must adopt a whole-system and long-term view to enable the right innovation.

6. Support skills development and the creation of an innovation culture.