Innovation

Innovation, research, and development are all crucial to the future of the railway. It is through innovation that true positive change is achieved, and business benefits accrue. RIA is a founding member of the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) and runs the Unlocking Innovation programme to push for more investment, research, and a railway fit for future generations.

Key Asks:

Continued Government investment in rail research, development, and innovation.
Strengthen support for businesses during the innovation rollout phase.
Lead a concerted, cross-industry effort to identify and overcome barriers to successful adoption of new technologies.
Provide a pathway and funding for radical innovation.
The railway must adopt a whole-system, long-term view to ensure that the right ideas are pursued, with the investment required.
Support skills development and education, with the aim of creating a culture of openness and innovation.

Innovation is research and development ‘in action’. Value for money, customer satisfaction and exports can be directly influenced by an innovation-friendly environment. Our inability to create an innovation-friendly environment has the knock-on effect of stifling private investment and initiative, preventing us recruiting the best talent. Without change, this will negatively impact our industry’s ability to create a railway service fit for future generations.

RIA runs the Unlocking Innovation (UI) programme, a series of events and activities to bring together people with the ideas and ambition to drive change within the rail industry. These ideas showcased through the UI programme ensure that the rail network is ready to continue supporting the country, by building a railway fit for the future. RIA is also a founding member of UKRRIN, to foster collaboration between academia and industry in order to accelerate new technologies and products.

Key Publications

RIA Wales and Western Priority Paper 2024

Posted on 16/07/2024

Destination Revenue Growth

Posted on 27/03/2024
Destination: Revenue Growth highlights RIA's blueprint to enhance the UK railway's ticketing and retail offer, in order to: meet the aspirations of the Government's 'Plan for Rail'; boost ridership; enable decarbonisation; and drive revenue growth

Data and Digital Technologies in Rail

Posted on 28/03/2023
RIA has developed six asks of Government, policy makers and clients, to enable, expediate and ensure the success of the UK railway’s digital transition over the Digital Decade.

RIA: better and simpler fares and ticketing can drive revenues and restore trust in rail

Posted on 27/03/2024
A new report from the Railway Industry Association (RIA) today (27 March) provides a fresh blueprint for improving the fares and ticketing across UK rail.

Dynamic Programme announced to unlocking rail innovation in 2024

Posted on 25/01/2024
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is pleased to announce that Telent is joining the Unlocking Innovation programme as a Strategic Partner, alongside Network Rail’s RD&I Portfolio and UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN).

RIA Launches Midlands and Eastern Priorities Paper

Posted on 27/10/2023
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) Midlands & Eastern has today published a new Priorities Paper, reflecting a collaborative approach with national and sub-national transport bodies to tackle key challenges and unlock the full potential of the re

Get in touch

For more insight on Innovation, please contact the Innovation team at [email protected]