In News

17 projects, 6 of which are focused on accessibility, have been announced by the Department for Travel totalling £5.3m.

The projects are the outcome of the First of Kind (FOAK) competition. This is the seventh round of FOAK 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 trails on the railways in the coming months and giving them a better chance of being used across the network long term.

Run in conjunction with Innovative UK, other accessibility projects set to share the £5.3 million of funding offered by the government include:

- Strategically placed QR codes around stations that 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 proving 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.

- AI technology could soon see live staff announcements across train tickets to ensure passengers hard of hearing do not miss vital updates.

Huw Merriman, 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 have the potential to make a huge difference to passengers, whether that’s being able to read important announcements or local 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 projects this year include:

- Sensors to detect when there are leaves on the line

- DreamSuite, a new design for UK sleeper services

- New technology that will allow train timetables to rapidly update during extreme weather events.

Over the past 6 years, more than £50m of funding has been awarded to 150 projects as part of the competition, helping a number of innovative technology reach the marketing, including:

- Seat Frog, which allows passengers to swap tickets without buying a new one
- Train mounted cameras to address line side maintenance issues

- Transreport, which allows passengers with disabilities to request assistance more easily.

Anthony Smith, 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, said: “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 Government’s Network North plan, a further £350m 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. This is on top of a Network Rail plans to make six station on its Wales and borders route fully accessible for the first time with the construction of new footbridges and lifts. Stations including Abergavenny, Cwmbran, Flint, Llanelli and Newtown will receive new footbridges with lifts, while Ludlow will have a lift added to its existing bridge.

This will mean all passengers, especially those with limited mobility, will have step free, accessible routes to and between platforms.

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