What Rail Can Learn from Tech: Speed, Agility and User Experience

Britain’s rail industry is built on legacy. Decades of infrastructure, regulation, and process have shaped a safe transport network, but one that often struggles to respond quickly to change.

As we move into a future where we rely more on digital transformation, there's a growing case for learning from how the tech sector delivers change: fast, user-focused, and agile.

At Migo, we believe the future of rail demands the best of both worlds. The reliability of traditional engineering, and the adaptability of modern technology.

Here’s what that could look like:

1. Moving at the Speed of Value

   In tech, minimum viable products (MVPs) are built quickly, tested with users, and iterated fast. Rail projects often take years to move from concept to delivery. We need a shift toward faster deployment of innovations, starting small, learning quickly, and scaling what works whilst navigating the complexities of the operational railway. Whether it's a new routing tool or an AI-driven planning model, value comes from speed to impact, not just perfection.

2. Building Around the End User

   Tech companies obsess over the user experience. In rail, whether that user is an operator, a customer, or a signaller, we need to put them at the centre. Tools should be intuitive, useful, and built with direct input from the people using them. Innovation should start with real problems, not just available technology.

3. Working in the Open

   The tech sector thrives on open-source thinking, shared standards, and collaborative ecosystems. Rail has often operated in silos, but that’s beginning to change. We’re already seeing promising steps through initiatives like RSSB’s R&D programme, Network Rail’s open data services via LINX, and RDG’s Rail Data Marketplace. These efforts show what’s possible, but to truly unlock innovation, we need to accelerate this shift. Embracing open APIs, interoperable systems, and common digital standards is how we break down fragmentation and deliver network-wide improvements.

4. Iterating, Not Just Implementing

   Success in tech rarely comes from getting it right first time. It's about learning and improving constantly. Rail innovation needs the same mindset. Let’s pilot, test, get feedback, and refine. Innovation isn’t a one-off project, it’s an ongoing capability.

   
   

Putting Innovation into Practice

These lessons from the tech sector can benefit all corners of the rail industry. Dynamic scheduling, real-time network visibility, smart terminals, predictive routing, all of these depend on building the digital spine of the railway. And that requires working in new ways, not just with new tools. It’s time to move beyond buzzwords in the boardroom and bring innovation to the front line, where it actually makes a difference.

At Migo, we’re here to help operators adopt the best of digital first thinking. From innovative training options and intelligent planning systems to collaborative digital platforms, we help bring smart solutions to day-to-day operations. Our approach focuses on integration, real-world application, and helping teams work more efficiently, with the right tools, in the right places, and in a way that actually makes a difference.

We believe Britain’s railway can be as innovative as the tech sector...if we’re bold enough to think differently, and brave enough to act!