A new company which will offer expertise in enhancing the efficiency of the rail freight industry has been launched by the University of Hull.

The company, named Railwhere, has seven years of research and innovation behind it from the University’s Logistics Institute.

It will offer new technology that will support rail freight operators in delivering more at a lower cost and with fewer emissions.

Working with Network Rail and Freightliner, the Logistics Institute and Lampada Digital Solutions (a subsidiary of the university) have developed software which will allow more carbon and fuel-efficient operations.

They have gained recognition for their work in building a more sustainable choice for businesses.

Within the partnership, which also features Innovate UK, Aether Limited and the University of Derby, they have restructured transporting quarried stone from the Medips to London.

Longer trains will now be running to transport additional goods in fewer days, which will be more fuel efficient and free up resources.

The work they have done has won the ‘Sustainability and Safety’ and ‘Rail Freight Project of the Year’ awards.

Lampada and Network Rail also earned the ‘Rail Team of the Year’ award for implementing and developing an application used by planners to optimise train weights.

“I am delighted to be leading a team whose expertise brings transformational technology to the rail freight industry. We build intuitive software that empowers the rail freight industry to plan smarter, operate cleaner, and make better-informed decisions. 

“Our software has proved its value and is now seen to be of strategic importance by our customers. In a time of economic uncertainty and significant environmental challenges it is more important than ever to make good decisions based on accurate, fast and accessible analysis.

“The launch of Railwhere signifies our confidence that this business will be well received by the industry, can build on its successes and partnerships and will contribute to a stronger and greener rail network.”

Railwhere Director Barrie Louw