THE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATES FASTER THAN THE PROCESSES TO ADOPT IT

As the planet faces the challenges of climate change, humans grapple with the rising cost of living, and governments strive to deliver value for money, the railway industry finds itself at the intersection of these issues. The good news is that the railway sector is already seeing significant innovation across various areas.

New materials have been developed for platforms, track infrastructure, rolling stock, and interiors, enhancing durability and performance. The focus on sustainability has led to the development of new fuels and energy sources to support ecofriendly traction power.

Researchers and engineers are testing automated robots for track inspection, maintenance, repair, and train cleaning and servicing. Smart sensors, cameras, and other devices are constantly monitoring the condition of track infrastructure and rolling stock, ensuring timely maintenance and improving safety.

Virtual and augmented reality solutions are revolutionising staff training and enhancing the overall customer experience. Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are harnessing vast amounts of data to develop novel solutions that transform the railway industry in unimaginable ways. Additionally, the implementation of digital twins is optimising railway performance and aiding in future planning and investment decisions.

While these advancements may sound like science fiction, they are already a reality in the industry today. However, there is a significant gap between technological innovation and the industry’s processes, culture, and ways of working. This disconnect hinders the full potential of innovation from being realised.

To illustrate the challenges faced in adopting innovation, let’s consider the hypothetical example of a track inspection and repairs robot equipped with a 3D printer. This robot could identify faults, print necessary components, and apply fixes in a single journey. However, realising such a scenario requires addressing several factors.

Ensuring the safety and quality of printed components, integrating automation into existing processes, and providing appropriate software, training, and qualifications are just a few of the considerations that need to be addressed.

Introducing any form of innovation in the railway sector is a complex task. The industry has witnessed fragmented organisations working in silos, prioritising dayto-day operations over long-term innovation. In our Railway Innovation Strategy, published last year, RIA asked for, among other things, to lead a concerted cross-industry effort to identify and overcome barriers to successful adoption of innovation.

Our Innovation Perception Survey shows that procurement, industry sponsorship and champions, as well as product approval remain the key policies and processes that have the greatest impact on innovation in the UK railway industry.

The existing public procurement processes often follow a competitive approach, which may not align well with the implementation of “first of a kind” innovations. Developing and delivering an innovative product or service often requires additional time and funding beyond the initial support and estimates. And the process of ensuring compliance, product approval and integration into existing processes can be complex and time consuming.

Addressing these barriers requires concerted efforts from industry stakeholders, policymakers, and regulatory bodies. Streamlining the procurement and product acceptance process through collaboration, promoting a culture that embraces calculated risks and improving awareness and understanding of research, development and innovation processes is a good start to ensure that the processes to adopt innovation, move at pace with the technological advancements.

Rose Garber Member Relations Director