Bristol Temple Meads rail station is to become the UK’s first ‘Station Innovation Zone’, trialling new technologies designed to upgrade passengers’ experience as part of a multi-million pound programme.
The five-year programme is selecting start-ups aiming to test new ways to improve various aspects of the passenger experience, under a new partnership between Network Rail and Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s transport and place innovation accelerator.
These include making journeys smoother with smarter ticketing, making stations more accessible with wayfinding apps, using AI to improve people flow, and designing better facilities using human-centred design principles.
Connected Places Catapult is directing millions of pounds of Innovate UK funding into the programme, which sees Bristol Temple Meads named as the UK’s first Station Innovation Zone. It said plans are in place to roll out the model to other stations ‘as it succeeds’.
Francis McGarry, Network Rail Wales and Western Region investment director, said: ‘We’re delighted to be partnering with Connected Places Catapult on this new programme which will provide SMEs with crucial funding opportunities and Network Rail with new, innovative ideas on how to further enhance the experience of our passengers.’
Connected Places Catapult CEO Nicola Yates said: ‘Innovation is tough in any industry and rail is especially hard because of the number of assessments and permissions required.
‘The net effect is that it takes too much time and costs too much for most small businesses to engage. Partnering with Network Rail to create a multi-year Station Innovation Zone in Bristol’s vibrant Temple Quarter will enable us to support numerous small companies in navigating these challenges and benefit passengers’ experience of the station.’
Applications are open for start-ups with ideas that could be trialled in the Station Innovation Zone.
Connected Places Catapult said passengers are likely to see the first trials beginning early next year.
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