How to test and adopt new technology in rail
Innovations from outside the rail industry are becoming increasingly important. Improved clarity about testing and validation processes would increase rail’s ability to adopt innovations.
Introducing new technology to the operating railway is often a challenging and costly process. It can be a particular challenge for new entrants to the rail industry who are not fully aware of these processes. This reduces rail’s ability to adopt the full range of suitable new technologies.
Improved guidance about the testing and validation processes for new technologies is therefore needed.
RSSB experts and the University of Birmingham conducted a thorough overhaul of existing guidance for testing and validation processes. They used systematic criteria for this overhaul so that the needs of new types of users or technologies were met.
Key needs guiding the overhaul were:
- the needs of innovators thinking of commissioning tests or trials for the first time.
- the needs of those conducting tests or advising people about potential tests. This will help everyone understand the issues that need to be thought about when testing.
- the needs of new entrants to the rail industry who want their technology to be adopted by rail.
The improved guidance document supports the more efficient introduction of new technology.
It provides users with a reference document that:
- describes the roles and responsibilities in the rail industry’s testing and validation processes
- explains the importance of robust testing and validation for new technology and processes
- Informs users how and where testing can be carried out.