Tech start-ups disrupting the rail industry in 2020

The railway sector is increasingly embracing modern technologies such as AI and machine learning, and more start-ups are mushrooming to solve the woes facing rail companies. Varsha Saraogi highlights five innovative start-ups to watch out for in 2020.

All images courtesy of Deutsche Bahn


ith the advent of digitalisation, the railway sector has been evolving in the past decade. The global market value for railway technology is expected to reach €185bn between 2019 and 2021, according to Statista.

As a result, various initiatives are being implemented to encourage start-ups in the rail sector. In 2017, Virgin Trains launched its Platform X accelerator with the aim to “solve key rail challenges” through ideas which improve traveller experience, bring more passengers onto the digital grid, and facilitate internal company decision-making processes.

HackTrain is an annual UK-based hackathon and conference with backing from Great Western Railway, Stagecoach and Arriva amongst others where companies discuss the main issues which need to be addressed which include overcrowding, safety and faulty machinery.

Start-ups in the sector are being driven by progress on a multitude of tech fronts, including growing reliance on artificial intelligence, big data, and the expansion of the internet of things.

Here are five tech start-ups to keep an eye on in 2020 who aim to tackle some of the rail industry’s complex problems.