The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced £5 million in funding for 26 innovative rail projects aimed at improving the passenger experience. The projects are part of the First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) competition, a partnership with Innovate UK, Network Rail, and train operators, designed to help new technologies get a foothold in the rail industry.
This year’s winning projects focus on enhancing safety at platforms, improving passenger security, and reducing incidents of vehicles hitting railway bridges. The innovations will be trialled on the rail network to demonstrate their potential for wider adoption.
Among the successful projects is IntelliPan Network, which uses AI to detect faults on overhead lines, aiming to reduce delays caused by dewirements. Another winner, SafeRide 5G, will allow passengers to report incidents privately and securely via onboard Wi-Fi, boosting response times and removing barriers to reporting.
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.”
Previous winners of the FOAK competition have already been widely adopted. For example, the Portable Track Geometry Measurement System is now used to provide immediate track information to engineers, allowing for quicker lifting of speed restrictions and line closures.
Mike Biddle, Executive Director for Net Zero at Innovate UK, said: “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.”
The 26 projects began work on 2nd September 2025, with testing scheduled to take place over the coming months. See the full list of winners.
