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and development( R & D) for asset renewal and monitoring technologies. Richard highlights the types of innovations that will be trialed as part of this initiative.“ We view the funding approved by the ORR as a vote of confidence in our achievements in R & D and innovation. While the wider Network Rail portfolio encompasses about £ 110 million for innovation, our £ 4 million may seem modest, but it is a phenomenally important contribution, and we must maximize its potential. We have identified five focus areas for innovation: automated inspection, predictive maintenance, optimized planning data, digital data and technology, and advanced asset management. Our goal is to drive long-term cost savings, safety improvements, sustainability, and enhanced passenger experience.
“ Furthermore, we aim to develop highreadiness solutions; for example, we have worked on dynamic overhead line monitoring and other innovations that leverage AI for planning. Some technologies are easy to get
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