Rail Technical Strategy

Innovating across Britain’s railway

Endorsed by industry

“This is a practical and ambitious strategy. It focuses on the innovation that matters to deliver a sustainable, efficient, and even safer future for rail, with customers – passengers and freight – at its core. ” READ MORE

Mark Phillips, CEO, RSSB

“The RTS is a major shift, outlining how we are making a step change in innovation across the rail sector. Let's embrace this refreshed strategy.” READ MORE

Andrew Haines, Chief Executive, Network Rail

“A rail sector able to meet challenges through innovation will provide greater benefits to rail users, export more around the globe, generate more investment and jobs, and attract even more talent.” READ MORE

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive, Railway Industry Association

“Having worked in the railway industry and now in academia I see the RTS as increasingly valuable in directing collaboration and innovation towards some of the industry's biggest challenges and opportunities.” READ MORE

Professor Paul Plummer, Director of University of Birmingham Centre for Rail Research and Education (BCRRE) and lead for UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN).

Mark Phillips, CEO, RSSB

“The RTS is a major shift, outlining how we are making a step change in innovation across the rail sector. Let's embrace this refreshed strategy.” READ MORE

Andrew Haines, Chief Executive, Network Rail

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive, Railway Industry Association

Professor Paul Plummer, Director of University of Birmingham Centre for Rail Research and Education (BCRRE) and lead for UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN).

Mark Phillips, CEO, RSSB

FUNCTIONAL PRIORITIES

The five functional priorities are focus areas where there is cross-industry agreement that we need to make rapid progress through new technical solutions. For each priority, explore the key goals and the ‘routemap’ of steps needed over the next five to eight years.

Freight Friendly is a new priority for 2024. We recently reviewed and refreshed Low Emissions, Optimised Train Operations, and Efficient and Reliable Assets. We are currently working to refresh Easy to Use for All – please get in touch with your ideas.

Easy to use for all ^*
Freight Friendly
Low emissions
Optimised train operations
Efficient and reliable assets

*REFRESH PENDING

Easy to use for all

Rail will deliver an excellent travel experience to regular and occasional passengers thanks to dependable real-time information, innovative payment methods, and improved solutions for accessibility.

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Freight Friendly

Freight growth on the rail network will be enabled through better use of existing and new capabilities of freight assets, and improved whole system thinking with freight at its heart.

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Low emissions

Carbon and air emissions will be minimised by cheaper and less disruptive electrification, zero-carbon diesel replacement, greater efficiency and removing emissions at source.

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Optimised train operations

Train services will be highly reliable and the capacity of the network improved by real-time management, better train planning and simulation, and shorter headways together with new solutions at nodes.

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Efficient and reliable assets

Reliability and availability will be maximised by design, remote and automatic inspection, and targeted interventions, while whole-life cost is reduced.

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CRITICAL ENABLERS

Making it a success goes beyond technical solutions.

The technical success of the railway and our ability to make technologies deliver for our existing and future customers, depends on how we work together. Improving innovation pathways, ensuring decisions are data driven and developing a technically talented workforce.

Data driven

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Improved implementation pathways

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Digitally talented workforce

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DESIRED OUTCOMES

Keeping a focus on why the RTS exists and what success looks like.

The RTS captures agreed areas of focus and provides a platform for collaboration. The desired outcomes set out what the strategy needs to deliver for industry.

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