A cutting-edge AI-powered rail maintenance solution, developed in the UK, is being rolled out globally. The technology, which uses train-mounted cameras and machine learning to monitor overhead lines, promises to improve punctuality and safety for rail passengers and engineers.
The system was developed through a collaboration between Hitachi Rail, LNER, and Network Rail, facilitated by Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership. The project, which began in 2021, involved a successful six-month trial on the East Coast Main Line.
The technology allows for live monitoring of overhead lines, automatically identifying potential faults and pinpointing where and when maintenance is required. This proactive approach helps to prevent disruptions and improve the overall reliability of the rail network.
Connected Places Catapult played a crucial role in the project, helping the partners to understand end-user requirements and supporting new collaborative working models. By sharing the commercial risk of developing the new technology, the Catapult helped bridge the gap between innovation and commercialisation.
The technology now forms part of Hitachi Rail’s HMAX platform, a digital asset management suite that integrates operational data from across railway assets and infrastructure. HMAX enhances railway management by providing real-time monitoring and enabling virtual simulations of the physical environment.
Ben Earl, IM and Digital Services Manager at Hitachi Rail, said: “The UK’s railway ecosystem had an important part to play in the development of this technology, which is now available to infrastructure operators worldwide. By working with Connected Places Catapult, we were able to collaborate with industry and successfully test this product in a real-world environment.”
Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer at Connected Places Catapult, added: “The UK is a hotbed of innovation partnerships and the perfect place for companies of all sizes to trial new technology as we seek to make our infrastructure greener, safer and more reliable. I’m proud that Connected Places Catapult has been able to play a role by convening the market to support the development of this technology.
“We look forward to welcoming industry leaders to the Connected Places Summit in March and working with Hitachi as strategic partners to put cutting edge innovation at the centre of the conversation.”
Hitachi and Connected Places Catapult are continuing their collaboration, with Hitachi becoming a strategic partner of the Connected Places Summit. Senior leaders from Hitachi, including EMEA president Andrew Barr, will be participating in a session at the Summit focused on energy decarbonisation.
