Technology startups have the potential to shape the future of the rail industry

Nine technology start-ups have been selected to partner with four rail operators to jointly innovate in the rail sector.

London North Eastern Railway, Northern, Southeastern and TransPennine Express have partnered in Future Labs to accelerate the development of solutions to common and emerging industry challenges.

As part of this unprecedented initiative, nine selected companies will receive exclusive insights and guidance through a 12-week mentoring program designed to implement their products and services as if they were to be used on the main network.

Participants will have the chance to apply, test and showcase their ideas in real-world settings while gaining access to industry data, mentoring and expertise from subject matter experts.

“Our railways play a vital role in connecting people across the country and supporting the UK economy.

By working together, we can find innovative solutions that drive growth by making the best use of technology to improve train performance, accessibility and customer experience.”

Richard Harrison, DOHL’s Chief Financial Officer, who is responsible for the four operators involved in Future Labs

More than 100 companies have applied to join Future Labs, each offering innovative solutions and products spanning four main categories:

• Improving the quality of customer service
• Improving efficiency and operational excellence
• Development of people and talents
• Wild category

The nine finalists, selected by rail industry leaders following a showcase day in York this month, are:

Chata.ai The solution enables organizations to leverage their data through proactive, self-service analytics, allowing users to gain real-time insights by asking simple questions.

Cleancore Intelligence provides a system for monitoring compliance with cleaning rules and traffic flow, eliminating the need to maintain manual records by identifying areas requiring cleaning.

1Gather together is a recruitment, engagement and development platform that uses games to train, onboard and attract talent. The one to two minute games are designed for high impact and can be played on the go, anytime, anywhere. Managers have the ability to quickly create games and employees are eligible for rewards.

close offers a fully automated forecasting solution based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. It is customizable to the specific needs of the company and can operate autonomously, eliminating the need for integration with the company’s existing infrastructure.

Poznania24 offers a mobile app tailored to people with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other hidden disabilities. The technology provides real-time travel information in an accessible format, whether at home, at the station or on board. It includes features such as locating the quietest carriage and delivering announcements, even when wearing noise-cancelling headphones.

Data Zing created a platform that provides business intelligence and visual data analysis powered by AI. It offers natural language queries that can automatically distinguish between complex calculations and relationships.

Tree provides a renewable energy solution that harnesses turbulent airflow from passing vehicles. Its modular design allows for simple installation and maintenance along roads or railways, utilizing available land to potentially power infrastructure towards net zero energy transportation systems.

Potential provides a solution to help frontline managers or team leaders understand their team’s strengths and weaknesses. It offers insights and helps leaders engage with their teams more effectively.

Lunarness is a digital twin company specializing in predicting and simulating asset failures in the transportation sector, helping companies plan for and mitigate potential impacts.

“The energy at Future Labs Pitch Day was electric! It was great to witness the involvement of LNER, Northern, Southeastern and TransPennine Express over the past few months and on the day itself.

I have been incredibly impressed by the entrepreneurs behind the nine companies selected to participate in the programme and I look forward to seeing how Future Labs will accelerate these innovations to shape the future of rail.”

Daniel Saunders, CEO of L Marks, the company that manages the Future Labs program,

Additional information about the Future Labs programme can be found here.