£5 Million ‘First of a Kind’ Rail Innovation Fund Opens to Boost Passenger Experience and Safety

The UK government has launched a new round of the First of a Kind (FOAK) rail innovation competition, making £5 million available to pioneering projects that aim to transform passenger experience, improve safety, enhance accessibility, and deliver greener, smarter railways.

Announced today (7 April 2025) by the Department for Transport (DfT) in partnership with Innovate UK, the competition is a key part of the government’s Plan for Change and supports its strategic vision of a more reliable, inclusive and forward-thinking railway network.

Focus on Passenger Needs and Real-World Impact

For the first time, the competition themes were shaped by close consultation with the rail industry. This year’s FOAK round will focus on:

• Passenger safety and experience: including tools to report anti-social behaviour and reduce incidents like violence against women and girls.
• Accessibility: with a spotlight on level boarding, to support independent travel for disabled passengers.
• Artificial Intelligence and data: such as AI tools to prevent or mitigate rail bridge strikes or monitor infrastructure.
• Greener railways: innovations that use AI to reduce waste, carbon emissions, and boost sustainability.

Supporting Inclusive, Safer Journeys

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy emphasised the importance of placing passengers at the heart of the competition:

“This competition addresses the biggest challenges facing the rail industry, taking cutting-edge technology and bringing it onto the railways by turning ideas into reality.

We’re creating a railway that works better for the people who use it, improving accessibility, safety and reliability, and preventing disruption before it happens.”

Previous FOAK Success Stories

Now in its eighth year, the FOAK scheme has invested £58 million across 179 innovative projects. Notable past successes include:

• Trains with Brains: AI-equipped trains that scan the network and alert teams to track defects in real-time.
• One Big Circle: AI-powered remote monitoring that helps engineers assess conditions like track faults and overhead line issues—winner of the King’s Award for Innovation.

These projects are already in use across the UK rail network, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Driving Change Through Great British Railways

Strategic innovation is now one of the five core missions of Shadow Great British Railways (GBRX), the DfT’s new long-term reform body. GBRX is helping accelerate the adoption of promising new technologies and break down traditional barriers to rail innovation by collaborating with industry and academia.

How to Apply

The FOAK 2025 competition is now open, with entries closing on 28 May 2025. An online briefing will be held tomorrow (8 April) for potential applicants to learn more about eligibility, application guidance and judging criteria.

Projects will be selected based on their readiness for real-world trials and potential for commercial deployment on the UK rail network.