Global Startup Heat Map highlights 10 Top Rail Startups to Watch in 2023
Through the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, which covers over 3 790 000+ startups & scaleups globally, we identified 573 rail startups. The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the 10 rail startups you should watch in 2023 as well as the geo-distribution of all 573 startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Based on the heat map, we see high startup activity in India and Europe, followed by the USA. The 10 hand-picked rail startups work on solutions ranging from rail analytics and smart operations platforms to sustainability and renewables integration.
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As the world’s largest resource for data on emerging companies, the SaaS platform enables you to identify relevant technologies and industry trends quickly & exhaustively. Based on the data from the platform, the Top 5 Rail Startup Hubs are located in London, New York City, Bangalore, New Delhi, & Berlin. The 10 hand-picked startups highlighted in this report are chosen from all over the world and develop solutions for rail operations and maintenance, track cleaning and signal management, and electrification, among others.
10 Top Rail Startups to Watch in 2023
The rail startups in this report develop technologies to enhance visibility, streamline operations, automate operations, reduce maintenance and repairs, and increase rail efficiency, among others. These solutions offer benefits such as increased transparency, real-time asset management, reduction of transit time, informed decision-making, and reduced overhead costs. Overall, these rail technologies have the potential to revolutionize the railway industry and address some of its most pressing challenges.
- Telegraph – Freight Rail Workflow Management
- Railspire – Locomotive Operation Orchestration
- servail – Robot-based Rail Maintenance
- DirecTrainSystems (DTS) – Dynamic Rail Coupling
- PlasmaTrack – Sustainable Track Cleaning
- Allegro Energy – Redox Flow Batteries
- Nitrexo – Railway Analytics
- Tekle Holographics – Railway Infrastructure Visualizations
- Sun-Ways – Solar Power Plants on Rail Tracks
- Cambridge Sensoriis – Drone-based Rail Inspection
Telegraph simplifies Freight Rail Workflow Management
US-based startup Telegraph develops a cloud-based operating system that enhances the visibility and logistics in freight rail supply chains. It provides transparency in rail supply chains by displaying all rail activity, exceptions, and real-time asset management. The system also streamlines operations through automatic alerts and by sharing information between partners while providing insights on mission-critical operations. Telegraph’s solution reduces transit time and performs cycle analysis to expose unnecessary costs. This enables supply chain managers to make informed decisions when it comes to fleet sizing or demurrage risk.
Railspire aids Locomotive Operation Orchestration
Railspire is a US-based startup that makes an intelligent orchestration solution to automate locomotive operations. It utilizes an operator-led, task-oriented methodology for both preplanned and ad hoc operations by utilizing algorithms that consistently optimize operational productivity. Moreover, Railspire integrates with modern and legacy locomotives to minimize maintenance and repairs through data analysis. The analytics solution helps extend the service life of the motive power and rolling stock. It also reduces the burden on train conductors by automating train handling functions such as grade, slip, tonnage, length, tractive effort, and braking horsepower.
servail offers Robot-based Rail Maintenance
servail is a German startup that provides robotic maintenance solutions for railway tracks and rolling stock. The startup’s autonomous robots utilize spaces below trains without protruding the loading gauge to inspect and maintain railway tracks. Moreover, the operation of these robots does not inhibit or interfere with track availability. The modular platform also carries tools and sensors to perform a wide range of track and train measurements such as track geometry, environment recognition, train-track interaction, and more. As it performs rolling stock inspection on regular tracks, the platform reduces the frequency of trains entering workshops, thereby increasing operational uptime.
DirecTrainSystems advances Dynamic Rail Coupling
DirecTrainSystems is an Israeli startup that provides a dynamic rail coupling technology to increase rail capacity and efficiency. The startup’s coupling-in-motion technology enables the physical connection and disconnection of trains on the run and at high speeds, without needing to stop or decelerate. The solution results in significant energy savings. DTS’ technology enables rail providers and manufacturers to reduce their carbon footprint while improving the quality of rail services and reaching economic targets.
PlasmaTrack ensures Sustainable Track Cleaning
UK-based startup PlasmaTrack develops a plasma-based cleaning technology that restores tracks to a dry, clean, and uncontaminated state. The device, which is installed on the underside of trains, clears the residue on tracks, for example, hard-to-remove third-layer contamination like leaves that stick to the surface. It enables train drivers to accurately predict braking distances regardless of the weather or season as well as network operators to increase the capacity on the miles of track they own. Besides, PlasmaTrack replaces the current method of using millions of liters of water to clean train tracks.
Allegro Energy manufactures Redox Flow Batteries
Australian startup Allegro Energy makes high-performance and sustainable flow batteries for long-duration energy storage. The startup’s water-based energy storage solution utilizes recyclable materials and features an electrolyte that is non-flammable and non-corrosive. Besides, the battery does not use rare earth materials and adjusts to suit any environment. It offers high storage duration and energy density, compared to existing battery solutions. Allegro Energy’s technology enables electric locomotives to charge rapidly and operate with minimal downtime. Moreover, the compact power pack requirements through the use of their redox flow battery and supercapacitors reduce the cost and weight of powertrains.
Nitrexo advances Railway Analytics
Irish startup Nitrexo develops digital solutions to positively reinforce and improve rail subsystems and equipment. The startup’s advanced analytics technology uses data from automated and sensor-based maintenance to understand maintenance patterns. This data offers significant operational value as it reduces manpower and spare parts requirements as well as overhead costs. Moreover, by providing real-time data analytics, Nitrexo enables rail operators to plan and schedule maintenance activities efficiently, replacing reactive maintenance.
Tekle Holographics enables Railway Infrastructure Visualizations
Dutch startup Tekle Holographics specializes in holographic technology that processes large amounts of data to create fully immersive 3D holograms. It leverages LIDAR scanners on the front of trains to scan infrastructure such as highways, tracks, and waterways. The results of these scans are displayed in real-time through holograms. This enables railway engineers to remotely monitor the condition of infrastructure. Moreover, Tekle Holographic’s software utilizes the input of the LIDAR scanner and compares the outcome with previous data to determine unusual changes. This provides rail operators with visibility into major transportation infrastructure and also allows them to filter it by area, region, or category.
Sun-Ways manufactures Solar Power Plants on Rail Tracks
Swiss startup Sun-Ways makes removable solar power plants that neatly fit between existing railway tracks. The startup uses its patented hooking system between the rails to allow for rapid mechanical installation and removal of a large number of solar panels. The photovoltaic (PV) panels do not hinder the movement of trains and inject electricity directly into catenaries for train traction. Sun-Way’s technology enables rail operators to decarbonize their railway systems through the quick and cost-effective implementation of solar energy harvesting.
Cambridge Sensoriis provides Drone-based Rail Inspection
UK-based startup Cambridge Sensoriis offers lightweight, highly sensitive, all-weather radar technology for drone-based inspection. The startup’s RadarAware solution uses the RA350 micro radar to enable drones to detect objects in the flight path, whether in the air or on the ground. Further, the radar contains no moving parts and features fully electronic beam-steer antenna arrays. This way, Cambridge Sensoriis’ drones reduce the cost of surveying railway infrastructure. Also, the startup’s long missions do not require the oversight of a ground-based pilot.
Discover All Emerging Rail Startups
The rail startups showcased in this report are only a small sample of all startups we identified through our data-driven startup scouting approach. Download our free Rail Innovation Reportfor a broad overview of the industry or get in touch for quick & exhaustive research on the latest technologies & emerging solutions that will impact your company in 2023!
