Our year-end episode brings the team together for a quick look back and a clear look ahead. We reflect on how the Skills Beyond Scale work shaped 2025, and we revisit highlights including the Heathrow Express Supplier Challenge and a growing, engaged community. We outline plans for 2026: a milestone year marking the Rail Innovation Group’s tenth anniversary!

Featuring the Rail Innovation Group leaders: Liam Henderson, Deb Carson and Johannah Randall

Liam is joined by friend of the pod, OpenTransport Initiative's Hayden Sutherland, to unpack three fast-moving themes from Rail Live in Madrid. They compare what was promised on stage with what is actually being built, digging into where agentic AI is useful, where it struggles with complex, high-stakes choices, and why good visual UX still beats long conversational lists. The pair link this to the hard graft behind the scenes, from data quality and APIs to cross-sector standards and interoperability, with a wry metro mishap reminding us that a capable human still matters. For startups, the takeaway is clear. Do fewer shiny demos and invest in richer, trustworthy data and integration so your product scales beyond an MVP.

railinnovationgroup.com

opentransport.co.uk

terrapinn.com/conference/rail-live/index.stm

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Jones from Heathrow Express—the team behind the 15-minute airport express—to hear how they’re throwing open the doors to new suppliers.

Heathrow Express is inviting startups and SMEs to help solve three real-world challenges:

• easing the pain of staff travel through airport security,

• showcasing and strengthening the premium passenger experience, and

• cracking the “last mile” connection beyond Paddington.

These aren’t theoretical ideas. They’re live problems waiting for practical, scalable solutions.

It all leads to the Heathrow Express Supplier Challenge on 9 December—a one-day, Dragons’ Den-style event where innovators will pitch directly to Heathrow Express and Heathrow Airport decision-makers. Expect a hands-on day: a ride out from Paddington, live pitches at Heathrow, and evening networking with the people who can actually make things happen.

If you build digital tools, passenger tech, or data-driven services and have ever thought “we could make rail run better,” this is your moment.

🎟️ Find out more and register here: Heathrow Express Supplier Challenge on Eventbrite

Tune in, get inspired, and get ready to step onto the platform.