10145633OBC - OHL Boundary ControlClosedSmall Business Research InitiativeInnovate UKThe **Overhead Line Boundary Control project** is an ambitious initiative to enhance safety, efficiency, and adaptability in rail operations worldwide. This system employs trackside RF (radio frequency) beacons to provide trains with specific, location-based instructions in real time. A key application is to manage pantograph adjustments---the device connecting electric trains to overhead lines---allowing safe, precise positioning as trains move through areas with elevated lines designed to accommodate double-stacked freight trains. Currently this is communicated through trackside signage requiring manual adjustment by the train crew, often requiring the train to be stationary. Each beacon operates independently of external power, using advanced energy-efficient solutions such as passive RF technology, energy harvesting, or long-life batteries. This makes the beacons self-sustaining, lowering maintenance requirements and making them suitable for deployment in both remote areas and high-traffic corridors. Installed on existing trackside structures, the beacons require minimal infrastructure modifications, keeping deployment costs low. Each beacon transmits a unique identifier to an on-train receiver, which interprets the signals and either alerts the driver or automatically adjusts the train's systems in response, ensuring that instructions are received and actioned at the correct locations along the track. Beyond pantograph adjustments, the system is adaptable to convey a range of operational and safety information, including speed limits, hazard warnings, and temporary work zone notifications. Beacons could even act as 'radio detonators' deployed by train crew or track work teams in emergency situations. This versatility allows railway operators to address multiple safety requirements with a single system, maximising the infrastructure's value and enhancing rail safety overall. To ensure continuous operation, the Overhead Line Boundary Control project includes a backup positioning layer capable of detecting missed or degraded beacon signals, ensuring communication reliability even in areas with potential signal interference and allowing condition-based maintenance of the beacon system. This dual-layer approach provides added resilience, giving rail operators confidence that critical instructions will always reach the train. The project's feasibility study will refine technical requirements, validate the power-independent beacon design, and assess the system's compatibility with global rail standards. By offering a scalable, low-maintenance solution suited to both established and emerging rail markets, the Overhead Line Boundary Control project aims to support the modernisation and safety of railway networks worldwide, paving the way for a safer, more efficient, and adaptable future for rail transport.