HS2 Ltd has announced the latest cohort for its seventh Innovation Accelerator programme, aimed at advancing railway technology to support the construction of the HS2 line and improve future train service reliability. As the project shifts towards rail systems installations, the Innovation Accelerator focuses on harnessing new ideas from outside the traditional rail sector to enhance the operational railway’s performance and durability.
In collaboration with Connected Places Catapult and the Department for Transport, HS2 Ltd has selected six UK-based technology companies to address the programme’s three key challenges: automating asset management, maximizing site productivity, and future-proofing operations. The participating firms, all small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will spend 20 weeks working with HS2 and its partners to refine their innovations, with the goal of showcasing their solutions to industry stakeholders.
“This new Accelerator programme focuses on rail systems operations and maintenance, marking a shift in our efforts to improve railway operations as we move forward with the HS2 project. Innovations developed through this programme will drive efficiencies in the delivery of HS2 and future rail investment and construction programmes,” Jon Kelly, HS2 Ltd’s senior innovation manager, commented.
“I am excited to see the innovative solutions emerging from this programme. These small businesses are developing technologies that will enhance asset management, improve system reliability, and increase on-site efficiency—key components for the future of rail operations,” Dr. Alan Peters, Ecosystem Director for Rail and Stations at Connected Places Catapult, added.
Seven companies taking part in the Innovation Accelerator
The seven companies taking part in the Innovation Accelerator are developing technologies that could revolutionize various aspects of rail operations:
- Archangel Imaging will refine its AI-powered security camera technology, which is already used in defense, to enhance security across HS2’s 140-mile network.
- Complete Cyber aims to strengthen the digital signaling systems for HS2, which will also be rolled out across the wider rail network.
- Machines for Construction will advance its robotic technology for repetitive tasks, such as installing overhead electric cables, improving efficiency through a learning process.
- Mind Foundry is working on AI technology to help HS2 engineers monitor infrastructure and equipment for performance changes, supporting a “predict and prevent” approach to maintenance.
- PRAM will enhance its radar technology to monitor and manage the condition of key railway assets, including viaducts and embankments, using real-time data to ensure long-term reliability.
- StirlingX is developing uncrewed aerial systems for inspecting infrastructure and identifying potential risks or hazards, particularly in older parts of the railway.
The Accelerator programme will run until May 2025, with the participating companies showcasing their innovations to industry investors and HS2’s supply chain at the end of the programme. Since its launch in 2020, the HS2 Innovation Accelerator has supported 37 small businesses through six cohorts, helping them secure 29 pilot projects across HS2. These companies have raised over £220 million in investment, creating more than 430 new jobs in the UK.
HS2 is set to support more than 31,000 jobs as construction continues between the West Midlands and London. Once completed, the high-speed rail line will reduce travel times, increase reliability, and free up capacity for local trains on the heavily congested West Coast Main Line, boosting economic growth across the UK.
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