Comment: A data-powered model is key for the future of UK rail

The return to rail in the UK has undoubtedly gathered impressive pace in recent months, with data from the Department for Transport (DfT) showing average daily passenger numbers reaching over 98 per cent of pre Covid levels in the last full reporting month of April, and rail revenues reportedly nudging over 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. This return has taken place despite industrial disputes and poor service levels on some parts of the network.

The railway industry’s success reflects, in part, its focus on building resilience into the UK’s rail infrastructure over recent years. A significant contributor to this has been the industry’s adoption of ‘data power’, to deliver the best possible services for rail customers, both passengers and freight.

Delivering improvements today

The Railway Industry Association (RIA), and many of our members, know that harnessing such technologies, and more specifically leveraging key data, could define our industry for decades to come. Much has been written about the impact this will have on rail customers and the railway network itself, but at its core is an efficient, stable, and most importantly, safe network. This is key to ensuring rail is seen as an optimal mode of transport in future.

So-called ‘Artificial Intelligence’ or AI-powered maintenance holds particular promise, as machine learning and data analytics can help rail companies understand the health of fleets, optimise maintenance and maximise asset availability.

Rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance are top of the list when it comes to reaping the benefits of AI. Fleet owners now have greater flexibility through remote monitoring and predictive maintenance, which means they can optimise the workload and talent of infrastructure and depot managers.

Efficiencies also offer cost savings and, importantly, safer working conditions. In the latest safety statistics, from April 2021 to March 2022, there were a total of 3,978 workforce injuries on the railways. Extensive rail infrastructure requires hundreds of workers to be on the tracks, monitoring and maintaining the assets, and so improving safety across the rail network is therefore critical.

Greater data collection, and a better understanding of how to exploit it, means operators are able to provide much improved situational awareness to workers, lowering the risk of accidents on the line during maintenance works. By constantly collecting information about the condition of the tracks, and the location and status of issues on them, workers are armed with clarity of what the issues are and when it is safe to work on them. This also prevents workers requiring two visits on the rails, with one inspection to assess the issue and another to repair - it can all be done at once.

Safety is being further strengthened with the use of geofencing technology. Operators can now map out safe working zones and site access points using incredibly precise geofencing technology. If workers leave the safe zone, they are alerted via a small wearable device, helping them regain situational awareness and move back to a position of safety. Backed by behavioural science, the solution is designed to prevent near misses and accidents by helping track workers stay within safe working limits and away from open lines.

Partnering people with technology

Advancements in AI and other deep technologies are already impacting people working in the railway industry in a number of different ways. We are facing the same challenges as other sectors in terms of skills shortages, but through the adoption of innovation and digital technologies, railways offer great opportunities for the next generation of tech talent and improved working conditions for existing railway professionals.  

RIA members have a wide range of tools which enable railway companies to take advantage of more efficient asset monitoring, allowing them to predict and prevent faults, all the while protecting the people carrying out the works. But if the industry is to take advantage of these tools, it needs teams with skills and knowledge to recognise the benefits of data.

Undoubtedly, the opportunities of AI and machine learning are significant. RIA, and our members, are committed to promoting the value these technologies can bring for the industry, and ultimately those who use the railway network day in, day out.

Darren Caplan is chief executive of the Railway Industry Association