The UK rail industry transports 1.7 billion passengers and 110 million tonnes of freight each year and faces challenges from rapid growth and changing customer expectations.
The number of trains has increased by 28% since 1997 and demand for rail transport is expected to increase by 58% over the next 10 years.
Light rail and local transport systems are expanding and creating opportunities for UK businesses.
Current engineering and technologies are struggling to keep pace with the demand. New technologies could help the rail industry to meet expectations, improve services for customers and open new markets for business.
Innovate UK has up to £9.4 million from the Department for Transport to invest in demonstrations of new technologies that could improve rail services.
Funding for this 'first of a kind' competition is under the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) and managed by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.
