SMEs can now apply to develop and trial tech tackling moist flooring and interchange stress at Bristol Temple Meads.
Credit score: Linked Locations Catapult
Linked Locations Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for transport and the constructed atmosphere, has introduced that functions are actually open for the newest cohort of the Station Innovation Zone.
Now in its fourth 12 months, the programme is a collaboration with Community Rail and funded by Innovate UK. It provides SMEs an opportunity to develop and check applied sciences geared toward bettering passenger expertise and station security.
Up to now, the programme has supported 25 corporations, with eight chosen for dwell trials at Bristol Temple Meads station. This 12 months, candidates are invited to reply to two challenges: station climate resilience and bettering the interchange expertise.
The climate resilience problem focuses on predicting and decreasing floor condensation and moist flooring, which may trigger slips and falls. Improvements ought to intention to scale back using matting and public security bulletins, whereas respecting the station’s heritage and guaranteeing accessibility.
The second problem seems to be at easing the expertise of interchanging passengers, notably when platforms are modified at quick discover. Options ought to assist cut back dashing and anxiousness by serving to passengers really feel calm, knowledgeable and ready. Improvements might embody bodily interventions utilizing mild or sound, or digital instruments equivalent to augmented actuality.
As much as eight corporations will obtain £4,000 every to develop trial plans. From these, as much as three will probably be chosen for dwell trials at Bristol Temple Meads, receiving as much as £45,000 for deployment. Contributors will even get enterprise and funding assist, plus publicity at business occasions.
Alan Peters, Rail Director at Linked Locations Catapult, stated:
“Massive railway stations equivalent to Bristol Temple Meads are essential interchanges for passengers, however could be a difficult atmosphere for some folks if they’ve to alter platform at quick discover. Station flooring that turn into slippery in inclement climate signify one other problematic situation to deal with, particularly inside older buildings.
“We’re eager to work carefully with innovators who can current new concepts to scale back anxiousness for passengers and enhance circumstances for folks passing by way of the station and making onward connections. Our intention is that improvements chosen to be taken ahead to trials could be developed into commercially profitable propositions that profit passengers within the UK and past.”
Brian Wortman, Senior Programme Supervisor at Community Rail, added:
“We’re very excited to launch one other 12 months of challenges as we proceed to construct on the success of the Station Innovation Zone.
“Working in collaboration with the broader business, this 12 months’s challenges present SMEs with a platform to display their improvements and reply to points that may present actual advantages to rail. Whether or not serving to us discover new methods to additional cut back slipping hazards, or increase upon the newest passenger insights analysis to make rail journey extra accessible, I’m assured that this 12 months will supply extra recent views on the artwork of the potential, and permit our groups at Temple Meads the chance to trial one thing actually novel.”
Earlier individuals highlighted the worth of the programme. Haydon Bartlett-Tasker, Managing Director of CrossTech, stated:
“Being a part of the Station Innovation Zone was a incredible expertise. It gave us the chance to evolve our Escalate system in a posh, real-world station, full with a passenger subway. Because of the programme, Escalate is now able to assist a wider community of stations, and we’re excited to scale as much as extra key places within the coming months.”
Christian Kerrigan, founding father of Co-You, praised the programme’s supportive atmosphere:
“We wouldn’t have been capable of entry the rail market with out the trial. It was a really supportive and engaged course of.”
Purposes shut on Wednesday 24 September 2025 through the Linked Locations Catapult web site.
