- Over £5m of Government funding to make journeys more modern,
efficient and convenient for passengers
- Funding split between 17 projects all using new technology to
make our railways more accessible
- More accessibility projects have been funded through this
year’s First of a Kind competition than ever before
AI technology could soon see live staff announcements across
train tickers to ensure passengers hard of hearing don’t miss
vital updates, thanks to a Government funding competition
announced today (Thursday 23 November).
This is just one of the 17 projects – six of which are focused on
accessibility – being announced today (23 November) as part
of the ‘2023 First of a Kind’ competition.
Run in conjunction with Innovate UK, other accessibility projects
set to share the £5.3m of funding offered by the Government
include:
- Strategically placed QR codes around stations which
allow train managers to directly input important information on
platform changes and service alterations as well as acting as a
database for accessible information, ensuring passengers have all
the information they need;
- An online journey planner providing up-to-date information on
key facilities such as where accessible toilets are in stations
and trains throughout their journey and whether they’re open and
in use, giving passengers more confidence when planning journeys;
- Installing kiosk systems on platforms – similar to pressing a
button on a bus to let the driver know to stop – in rural areas
where passengers currently have to physically flag down trains
which can cause difficulties for those with mobility needs.
This is the seventh round of First of a Kind funding, which aims
to develop new and innovative technology to drive efficiency,
modernise our current infrastructure, and make using our railways
a better experience for passengers. The funding will support the
projects through their development phases involving real trials
on the railways in the coming months and giving them a better
chance of being used across the network long term.
Rail Minister said:
“We’re spending more than £5 million on modernising train
journeys, improving the experience for some of the most
vulnerable passengers and using cutting edge technology to do so.
“The projects announced today have the potential to make a huge
difference to passengers, whether that’s being able to read
important announcements or locate accessible facilities. I’m
proud of the support we’ve been able to show through this
competition to drive towards a more innovative, inclusive and
better value for money rail network.”
Other winning projects this year include a sensor to detect when
there’s leaves on the line - a problem which causes delays across
the network, DreamSuite, a new design for UK Sleeper Services,
and new technology that will allow train timetables to rapidly
update during extreme weather events so people are kept up to
date.
Over the past six years more than £50 million of funding has been
awarded to 150 projects as part of the competition, helping a
number of innovative technology reach the market including,
‘Seat Frog’, which
allows passengers to swap train tickets without having to
purchase a new one, a train-mounted camera
able to identify and address lineside maintenance issues, and
Transreport’s
technology enabling passengers with disabilities to request
assistance more easily.
, chief executive of
independent watchdog Transport Focus, said:
“This new investment in accessibility improvements is a welcome
move to help rail passengers with disabilities travel freely and
with greater confidence.
“It is important that people with disabilities have full access
to trains and station facilities. Improving information and new
innovative solutions will help staff give all passengers the
support they need.”
Mike Biddle, Executive Director for Net Zero at Innovate
UK, stated:
“The innovations receiving support through this competition are
set to foster a more accessible, inclusive railway system within
the UK and to develop demonstrators that offer innovations in
customer experience, reliable and maintainable assets and
optimised train operations.
"The objective is to endorse a wider array of innovations that
focus on enhancing railway accessibility for all passengers,
ensuring a more equitable travel experience while creating easy
to maintain assets and optimising train operations.”
As part of the Network North plan, we have set aside a further
£350 million to improve accessibility at up to 100 stations,
meaning stations will be able to benefit from refitted lifts,
tactile surfaces, ramps and footbridges, new ticket gates and
accessible waiting rooms and toilets.
Notes to editors
Please see further information on the First of a Kind winning
projects here
