In Q1 of 2019, rail passenger journeys grew 2.4% compared to the same period in 2018. Passenger revenue and the average length of journey also increased too. Despite the rise in usage, passenger satisfaction was only at 83%. This is good – but it needs to be so much better. Train Operating Companies (TOCs) need to improve and modernise the quality of their services if they’re to keep up with passenger demands. Here are six rail industry innovation ideas to look out for 2020 that can do just that.

Over the last two years, the EU-funded MOMIT project has sought to demonstrate the use of remote sensing technologies – such as drones and satellites – for railway infrastructure monitoring. The ultimate benefit could be the safeguarding against the effects of natural hazards.

Japanese company Odakyu Electric Railway is trailing Nokia’s artificial intelligence (AI)-based SpaceTime scene analytics for railway crossing safety.

CAF has won contracts worth more than 100 million euros in Norway (with VY) and Finland (with Helsingin kaupungin liikennelaitos).CAF has won contracts worth more than 100 million euros in Norway (with VY) and Finland (with Helsingin kaupungin liikennelaitos).

Today the UK government will give HS2 the go-ahead. Having weighed up the pros and cons of the infrastructure project, the rail line connecting London to the north of England via Birmingham.

Deutsche Bahn AG, DB Engineering & Consulting, and JSC Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strategic collaboration.

Thales has secured a 48-month long contract to maintain traffic control facilities on the Madrid-Seville and Córdoba-Málaga high-speed lines in Spain.

Talgo UK and Chesterfield Borough Council have been working together to build up Talgo’s presence in the city. The Spanish rolling stock manufacturer recently established the Head Office of Talgo UK in Chesterfield and it also has ambitions to build an ‘innovation centre’.

China National Railway has outlined ten measures that need to be adopted to prevent the spread of epidemic diseases such as the coronavirus.

Sika, an expert in sealing and bonding solutions for the rail industry, has been awarded the 2019 Swiss Technology Award in the Innovation Leaders category for its Powerflex high-performance adhesive technology.