The project, known as SODOR (Satellites for Digitalisation of Railways), is among 16 programmes sharing £13 million of UK Space Agency funding delivered via the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES) programme.
Announced on Tuesday, August 18, the funding backs British companies developing the satellite systems the country will depend on for decades to come.
UK Government Space Minister Liz Lloyd said: “The West Highland Line is one of Scotland’s most iconic rail routes, but for too long passengers and communities along it have had to put up with poor or no connectivity. From November, passengers will benefit from the use of satellite technology in this trial to solve a real problem in one of the UK’s most remote and beautiful places.
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“I’m delighted that this UK Government investment is delivering tangible benefits for Scottish passengers, delivering new opportunities for some of the UK’s most remote and idyllic communities.
“The SODOR project, which has received £428,000 in UK Space Agency funding bringing the total of the project to over £4m, reflects the growing role that space technology plays in solving everyday challenges.
“From keeping train passengers connected on remote journeys to supporting the rural communities that traditional networks leave behind, British innovation is delivering tangible change for communities across the country.”
Dr Jaime Reed, Vice President Space Data Platforms and Applications at CGI in the UK and Australia, said: “SODOR will demonstrate how satellite communications can transform connectivity on some of the UK’s most remote rail routes, delivering tangible benefits for passengers, rail operators and the communities they serve.
“By combining innovative space and digital technologies, we’re helping to improve the passenger experience, support more resilient railway operations and showcase how UK innovation can solve real-world connectivity challenges. We look forward to working with our partners and the UK Space Agency to help shape the future of connected rail.”
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said: “Scotland’s Railway has some of the most rural and remote routes in the UK, so finding innovative ways to improve connectivity, support reliable operations, and enhance the experience of our customers and colleagues is a key area of interest for ScotRail.
“We’ve already been at the forefront of pioneering work to improve connectivity on rural routes, and this collaboration is an exciting opportunity to explore how another form of low-Earth orbit satellite technology could perform in a live railway environment.
“We’re pleased to support the project by enabling the Eutelsat equipment to be installed and tested on a Class 156 train, providing our operational insight and expertise, and helping assess how it compares with other connectivity solutions we are already exploring.
“While this trial is still at an early stage, we’re keen to continue leading the way in testing emerging technology and understanding the benefits it could bring for our customers, colleagues, and the remote communities we serve.”
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