Maestrano Group (AIM: MNO) said its wholly owned subsidiary, Corridor Technology Limited, has won a fully funded trial of its automated rail corridor gauging technology for Network Rail.
As part of the trial, corridor technology will be used to automatically analyse digital point cloud data (Lidar) captured by Network Rail, using its cloud-based machine learning platform which has been developed and successfully applied on Australian and Japanese railways.
The cloud-based platform specialist said the trial was awarded as a result of a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition in conjunction with Network Rail.
The SBRI programme was delivered by Innovate UK, which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK.
The trial comes after Network Rail identified to SBRI the problem of accurate gauging - measuring the location and encroachment of vegetation and masonry in rail networks.
Shares in Maestrano Group were trading 4.17% higher at 3.75p on Thursday morning.
"This project will enable Network Rail to benefit from our mature core technology,” said Nick Smith, Vice President Sales for Maestrano.
He commented, “We will undertake the R&D required on top of our existing platform to create a bespoke application for them, working alongside Network Rail staff and their advisors to develop, test and demonstrate the modifications needed to meet their requirements.
“This project should expedite commercial implementation so that Network Rail can benefit from radically quicker processing times to obtain actionable and timely gauging information.”
Smith added that rail workers’ safety would also be improved by reducing the need for boots-on-the-tracks inspections, as well as greater flexibility for customers through faster and more accurate scenario testing.
Follow News & Updates from Maestrano Group here: