Railway 200 special feature
Heading: AI in British rail:
The recent launch of an all-female advisory board to advise on the AI Action Plan for Rail will play a crucial role in promising safer journeys, smarter operations, and sustainable jobs for the future.:
Earlier this year, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced £1billion of extra funding towards nationwide AI delivery, and recent McKinsey researcg examining the adoption of analytical AI and generative AI in the rail industry shows that future adoption could unlock up to $22 billion in impact a year, globally.
The strategic body for Britain’s railway, GBRX, recently held an inaugural meeting to launch its newly established AI Advisory Council and mark the beginning of shaping the AI Action Plan for Rail, which will play a crucial part in delivering technical advancement, improving rail services, and creating sustainable, high-skilled jobs for the future.
The all-women Council brings in a wide expertise, covering ethics, safety, infrastructure, data, and people to enable the sector to advance the application of AI. When Lord Peter Hendy, Rail Minister, opened the inaugural meeting of the GBRX AI Advisory Council, he acknowledged that the Council reflected the depth of leadership and contribution that women are making to the advancement of AI.
Comprising of renowned experts in their fields, the Council is composed of Dr Catriona Campbell MBE, a leading figure in AI adoption and human-centred design, Dr Laura Gilbert CBE, Senior Director of AI, Tony Blair Institute; former Chief Analyst and Director of AI, No.10, Professor Shannon Vallor, Baillie Gifford Chair in Ethics of Data and AI, University of Edinburgh; Director, Centre for Technomoral Futures, Dr Neda Naghshbandi, Technical Lead for Intelligent Infrastructure, AtkinsRéalis, and Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive, Good Things Foundation; Non-Executive Director, DSIT.
Considering that only last year, results from a NSAR Rail Workforce Survey showed women only made up 16% of the rail workforce, the fact that the AI Advisory Council is solely composed of women points to a more progressive, and inclusive future for the sector. During the launch, Lord Peter said that the council would support wider government efforts to unlock new opportunities for growth, support safety, and create a network that works for everyone.
“Artificial Intelligence is set to play a defining role in every aspect of our lives, and this Government, as part of its Plan for Change, is ensuring transport is at the forefront of this technological revolution,” Lord Peter continued.
“It was a privilege to launch the inaugural GBRX AI Advisory Council, and I look forward to seeing this exceptional all-female team of experts break down barriers and help us address the biggest challenges ahead as we embrace this new era.”
Toufic Machnouk, Managing Director, GBRX, noted AI would change lives in more ways than could be understood now, calling it the ‘most consequential technology of our time’.
“With billions invested by technology companies, commoditised AI will become more prevalent, but the application of industrial AI, particularly in safety critical environments, is not inevitable and requires considered, strategic and purposeful action to advance its application and value. With a significant demographic transition ahead, this will play a major part in how we create more sustainable skills for the future,” Toufic said.
The case for integrating AI in railways is compelling, and applications are already visible across Britain’s network. Network Rail's web-based "Insight" platform uses machine learning algorithms to create what the organisation calls a "big picture" of the railway, analysing data from measurement trains, track images, and remote condition monitoring to proactively manage defects. It uses machine learning algorithms to predict and warn maintenance teams when a fault is detected and providing failure predictions up to a year in advance – allowing time for the issue to be fixed before it impacts the customer.
Safety improvements extend beyond maintenance. Railway computers are increasingly integrated into driver assistance systems, enabling autonomous detection of obstacles on tracks. AI-powered cameras and sensors can monitor overhead lines, vegetation encroachment, and track conditions in real-time. In one notable example, a joint project between Network Rail and London North Eastern Railway deployed an AI system along a one-mile stretch near Peterborough that has saved approximately 6,000 deer from being struck by trains, using sensors, alarms, and deterrents triggered by object detection technology.
The Department for Transport (DfT)’s Transport Artificial Intelligence Action Plan: Transforming Ambitions strategy outlines what the Government thinks the UK’s transport system will look like with AI integrated across operations, and how it can be done safely and effectively. When it comes to rail, like the initiatives already being rolled out, the strategy leans on automated infrastructure monitoring and maintenance, smart timetabling and better disruption responses.
The rail industry operates in a heavily regulated environment where safety is paramount. Poor data quality can lead to incorrect predictions, operational failures, and safety risks, and data quality presents another challenge, as AI systems are only as good as the data they’re trained on. To ensure that human safety is at the forefront of the AI transition, GBRX and its AI Advisory Council are vital for the sector’s development, and application, of AI without compromising staff and customer safety.
The AI Action Plan for Rail is due to be published later this year, and will set out and implement the actions and capabilities required for AI to be applied across the rail sector in safety-critical environments.