Network Rail chiefs believe greater collaboration is required across the transport industry if improvements are to be made in the future.

The organisation has released its new technical strategy, which outlines research and development priorities and opportunities over the next 30 years.

This comes shortly after the Office of Rail Regulation set Network Rail a number of targets in its quest to enhance the reliability of trains running throughout the UK.

Network Rail chairman Richard Parry-Jones said there needs to be a strong connection between long-term planning and technical capability.

He believes greater collaboration is needed "across disciplines within Network Rail, between Network Rail and the rail industry, with European and world railways and beyond the rail industry to other technology sectors" if the UK's transport offerings are to move forward.

The company has identified a number of areas in which it is particularly keen to innovate, including safety, sustainability, efficiency, rail capacity, performance and providing better customer information.