Technology in Rail in partnership with GBRX

Join Toufic as he bring us up to date with how GBRX have been building a specialised capability for strategic innovation, creating relationships with world leading innovators and collaborating across the sector to overcome barriers and maximise impact digital railway programme.

The UK rail industry faces a complex set of technology challenges as it works to modernise operations and meet public expectations. One of the biggest hurdles is upgrading ageing infrastructure—many systems in use today date back decades, making integration with modern technology both difficult and expensive. At the same time, operators must navigate a fragmented digital environment, where siloed data and legacy platforms hinder efforts to create seamless, end-to-end solutions for passengers and staff alike.

A growing concern is the shortage of skilled workers in digital and engineering roles. With experienced staff retiring and not enough new talent entering the sector, rail organisations face significant obstacles in delivering complex tech programmes. Meanwhile, the push to achieve sustainability targets—like decarbonisation and electrification—requires bold innovation and large-scale investment in clean technology.

The effective use of data remains another sticking point. Although the industry collects vast amounts of information, converting it into actionable insights—for predictive maintenance, smarter scheduling, or improved passenger services—is still limited by technical and organisational barriers.

Rising cybersecurity threats add to the pressure, as more connected systems increase the risk of disruption. And with all these challenges unfolding against a backdrop of policy uncertainty and tight public funding, long-term tech investment becomes harder to plan and deliver.

Altogether, these issues demand a coordinated strategy focused on interoperability, workforce development, and strong public-private partnerships to truly unlock the potential of modern rail technology in the UK.

The panel will discuss the importance of data in the railway sector, highlighting how it can optimise train schedules, improve maintenance, and enhance passenger services. Advanced analytics, AI, and machine learning will be explored for processing railway data and supporting real-time decisions. Successful case studies and strategies for integrating data from various sources will be discussed as well as the challenges related to data privacy and security. Overall, the panel aims to show how data-driven insights can enhance rail operations and passenger experience, contributing to a more efficient and reliable network.

The panel will explore the future of rail by examining emerging technologies in infrastructure, operations, and safety. Discussions will cover on-track system enhancements, GBRXs role in digital integration, modern signalling solutions like ETCS, AI-driven driver assistance, and advanced track monitoring using drones and sensors. Panellists will no doubt emphasise the need for interoperability, predictive maintenance, and cross-industry collaboration to build a smarter, more resilient rail network.

The panel will examine how technology is elevating the UK rail passenger experience through digital innovation. From smart ticketing and integrated apps to AI-driven service updates and accessibility tools, experts will be exploring  the needs and solutions to make journeys more seamless and inclusive. Emphasis will be placed on using data to improve reliability and personalisation, with a call for industry-wide collaboration to meet rising expectations shaped by modern digital standards.