The **Overhead Line Boundary Control project** is an ambitious initiative to enhance safety, efficiency, and adaptability in rail operations worldwide. This system employs trackside RF (radio frequency) beacons to provide trains with specific, location-based instructions in real time. A key application is to manage pantograph adjustments---the device connecting electric trains to overhead lines---allowing safe, precise positioning as trains move through areas with elevated lines designed to accommodate double-stacked freight trains. Currently this is communicated through trackside signage requiring manual adjustment by the train crew, often requiring the train to be stationary. Each beacon operates independently of external power, using advanced energy-efficient solutions such as passive RF technology, energy harvesting, or long-life batteries. This makes the beacons self-sustaining, lowering maintenance requirements and making them suitable for deployment in both remote areas and high-traffic corridors. Installed on existing trackside structures, the beacons require minimal infrastructure modifications, keeping deployment costs low. Each beacon transmits a unique identifier to an on-train receiver, which interprets the signals and either alerts the driver or automatically adjusts the train's systems in response, ensuring that instructions are received and actioned at the correct locations along the track. Beyond pantograph adjustments, the system is adaptable to convey a range of operational and safety information, including speed limits, hazard warnings, and temporary work zone notifications. Beacons could even act as 'radio detonators' deployed by train crew or track work teams in emergency situations. This versatility allows railway operators to address multiple safety requirements with a single system, maximising the infrastructure's value and enhancing rail safety overall. To ensure continuous operation, the Overhead Line Boundary Control project includes a backup positioning layer capable of detecting missed or degraded beacon signals, ensuring communication reliability even in areas with potential signal interference and allowing condition-based maintenance of the beacon system. This dual-layer approach provides added resilience, giving rail operators confidence that critical instructions will always reach the train. The project's feasibility study will refine technical requirements, validate the power-independent beacon design, and assess the system's compatibility with global rail standards. By offering a scalable, low-maintenance solution suited to both established and emerging rail markets, the Overhead Line Boundary Control project aims to support the modernisation and safety of railway networks worldwide, paving the way for a safer, more efficient, and adaptable future for rail transport.

Request Stops are rural railway stations where passengers have to request a train to stop by making themselves visible to an approaching service whilst putting their hand out to indicate a wish to board. All passenger trains passing these stations have to slow to low speed to be able to stop safely in case passengers are waiting, which can be infrequent at lightly used stations. Sometimes passenger's requests are not successfully acknowledged causing a major inconvenience to the travelling public, and disruption to the operation of the railway through station overruns or 'failure to call' incidents. National Request Stop (NRS) is a novel system designed to eliminate these problems. From the perspective of a passenger, NRS provides a platform kiosk displaying service information and a push button to request a service stop, offering a simple to use system with improved travel information. NRS also improves the safety of waiting passengers by removing the need for them to stand near the platform edge to flag down the train manually. This issue is of particular concern at unsighted stations (stations that are on a bend, in cuttings, bridges obstructing the platform etc.) where the driver does not have a clear view of the platform on approach. NRS gives the train crew advance notice of waiting passengers meaning the service can pass through at line speed when no one wishes to board. This leads to reduced delays and better timetable resilience, reduced fuel use and brake wear by trains and better passenger information, interaction and safety as passengers now only need to press a button to request the train to stop. NRS does not need additional equipment installed on trains and uses existing data feeds and communication channels to determine the position of the train in relation to the station and to alert train crew of an upcoming stop. NRS is a game changing upgrade to the service provided to passengers at request stop stations as it can potentially enable the reopening of closed stations, due to the low timetable impact that NRS offers. The system is designed for lightly used stations in remote or rural areas and offers an extremely cost effective intervention which re-affirms a commitment to support rural communities by enhancing the travelling experience in these areas.