UK: Applications for funding under the second round of the £1·3m Data Sandbox+ research competition are due to close on December 6.
The competition is being co-funded by RSSB and Network Rail as part of the PERFORM cross-industry initiative led by RSSB. This aims to use advanced data analytics technologies ‘to run trains on time today, while improving the rail performance of tomorrow’.
The four research projects which were selected for funding under the first round of the competition are scheduled to get underway in November. These are:
- Real time prediction and mitigation of disruption through personalised passenger communications, led by Zipabout and the University of Birmingham in collaboration with LNER;
- Data-driven robust timetabling, led by the University of Southampton, in collaboration with Network Rail and Tracsis Ltd’s Bellvedi;
- Rail performance modelling for strategic decision making, led by Risk Solutions, in collaboration with City University, Heriott-Watt University, the University of Southampton, Steer and Tracsis;
- IntelliDoorDwell, led by Porterbrook in collaboration with ScotRail, the University of Southampton and Elastacloud.
‘We are excited to join forces with Network Rail to provide industry with a unique opportunity to apply and test the latest data analytics, machine learning and AI techniques to maximise the value of industry data’ said RSSB’s Senior Partnerships & Grants Manager Giulia Lorenzini on October 23.
‘The competition will build on successful collaborations between innovators, academia, train operators and other industry bodies in order to ultimately improve operational performance and a better customer experience.’
