Railways: Artificial Intelligence
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what artificial intelligence systems, including generative artificial intelligence and AI agents, are being utilised by Network Rail; for what operational, maintenance, asset management, customer service and corporate functions those systems are being used; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of further deployment of AI agents across the rail network.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
Network Rail is applying and exploring AI and advanced analytics across operations, maintenance and asset management to improve situational awareness, identify performance risks, understand knock-on effects of delays and support decision-making during disruption.
GBRX, the strategic technology body for Britain’s railway, has developed an Action Plan that identified potential uses in customer service and corporate functions, including fares modelling, passenger-facing AI, disruption information and journey planning. Further deployment across the rail network could deliver benefits where targeted at clearly defined problems, provided it is implemented with appropriate safeguards, is human-centred and aligned with established safety and assurance frameworks.
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