The First of a Kind (FOAK) competition invites bids from
companies to fund existing innovations that may be in use outside
the rail industry but which could benefit rail passengers. This
could, for example, be to create more space in carriages or
provide improved assistance to passengers with a diverse range of
needs.
The competition, run by Innovate UK, is part of the Department for Transport’s
(DfT) wider Accelerating Innovation in Rail (AIR)
scheme. This is aimed at introducing cutting-edge ways of
improving the whole passenger experience on rail, such as helping
rail services to run efficiently and on time.
AIR develops ideas from concept, whereas the FOAK scheme aims to
fund ideas already working in the real world that could be
successfully transferred to the rail industry. As they already
exist, under the scheme passengers will be able to use them in
trials and give feedback.
The first challenge in the FOAK competition is rolling stock.
Organisations are invited to bid for funding for technology not
previously used on trains and examine how they can be integrated.
Later funding will focus on other aspects of the railway network.
Passengers at the heart
Rail Minister said:
As well as encouraging innovative ideas from concept, we want
to help develop existing ideas that can be transferred
successfully to the rail industry for the benefit of
passengers.
The aim of government, train operators and infrastructure
managers is to put passengers at the heart of everything we do.
If we can help fund development of these inventive and
ground-breaking ideas then this will help support the biggest
modernisation programme in rail since the Victorian era.
Ian Meikle, Innovate UK’s Director - Infrastructure Systems,
said:
We want to unlock the talent of UK companies to demonstrate
tomorrow’s trains today. This first of a kind competition will
result in tangible, realistic prototypes that have the
potential to meet the challenges of passenger journeys.
Gordon Wakeford, Chair of the Rail Supply Group, commented:
The rail supply sector is continually seeking to improve the
passenger experience by developer new and better products and
solutions. This competition will provide a stimulus for the
many innovative companies in our sector to develop new and
ground-breaking ways to enhance rail journeys.
I am confident that the rail industry will rise to this
challenge with commitment and creativity.
