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The Future of Rail: Watching, Predicting, and Learning

Britain’s rail network could handle an extra billion journeys by the mid‑2030s, driven by AI becoming the operating system across infrastructure, rolling stock and stations. The report outlines a shift to predictive, data‑driven maintenance using sensors, LiDAR and vibration monitors, and AI‑based traffic management that can boost capacity and cut energy use by 10‑15 %. Safety applications such as obstacle detection and CCTV analytics are also highlighted, while the convergence of OT and IT raises cybersecurity concerns. Adoption speed will determine whether AI adds control or complexity.