Innovation

Developed and tested at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre, HydroFLEX is the UK’s first hydrogen-ready passenger train which has been an important pathfinder to demonstrate a low-carbon solution for non-electrified routes.

The train, originally a Class 319 retrofitted to run on hydrogen and battery power, has undergone extensive mainline testing, reaching speeds of 90mph and travelling up Lickey Hill, the steepest mainline incline in the UK. The vehicle also became the first UK train to safely travel through a tunnel on hydrogen power.

Having access to fast and reliable data is a game-changer for ensuring the high-performance of trains on the network, and especially when you can get that data remotely. With the introduction of Remote Condition Monitoring, information such as the engine’s oil pressure, coolant level, saloon temperature and more is readily available without the need In partnership with Instrumentel, we have rolled out remote condition monitoring technology on our Turbostar fleets at CrossCountry, EMR, Chiltern and Northern. Early results have shown that moving just one task to condition-based maintenance can save up to 1,500 maintenance hours per year, freeing up this time for people to focus on other areas.

Double Variable Rate Sanders brake systems are a huge step in the right direction to creating a safer railway for all. This system, fitted to our Class 323 trains operating with Northern, have delivered a significant reduction in safety incidents since its implementation.

DVRS delivers a consistency in braking performance that provides a more repeatable and predictable reaction in very low adhesion conditions. This project, in collaboration with Northern, AB Hoses and Network Rail, won the Engineering and Safety category at the Railway Innovation Awards 2025.

Porterbrook and Network Rail have been working to convert ex-passenger Class 153 trains into a transformational switches and crossings train-borne monitoring service. This is supporting a new path for safe inspection of assets, meaning engineers can dial up inspections and decision making from a desktop and reduce time spent on track.

The Visual Inspection Units means that on foot inspections of switches and crossings can be reduced by up to 50%, with an expected 3,900 hours fewer boots on ballast in a year for one delivery unit alone. This project won the Safety Achievement of the Year category at the National Rail Awards in 2023.