Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to increase the uptake of rail technologies across the rail industry.

Research, development and innovation in rail is led by the rail industry itself, including steps to increase the uptake of rail technologies across the sector. However, the Government continues to play an active role to support this.

Along with Network Rail’s research and development portfolio, the Department also funds First of a Kind innovation competitions, including the announcement of a further round of funding of £7.6m on 12 April 2022. This aims to overcome barriers to new technologies coming to the rail market, by supporting innovators to demonstrate their products on the railway for potential industry buyers. We have also recently offered tailored support to help innovators effectively pitch to investors. The Department further funds the industry-wide research and development programme delivered by the Rail Safety and Standards Board.