Challenges and opportunities are the primary catalysts for innovation, in creating a need for the discovery and development of new solutions, and the potential for new ideas to emerge and evolve. Whilst it can be achieved through an intrapreneurial mindset within organisations and industries, there is also significant scope for collaborative and cross-sector innovation to help shape that vision for the future. 

The rail industry currently faces a range of challenges including upgrading and adding to the network cost-effectively, addressing environmental concerns, and enhancing passenger experiences and freight services; but has real opportunities in deploying new methods and technologies, adopting ‘clean tech’ ideas and solutions, and embracing interconnected, multi-modal concepts in wider transportation.