Network Rail has published its technical strategy, setting out research and development opportunities for the next thirty years.

The strategy aims to boost investment in R&D to meet key outcomes on safety, performance, customer experience, capacity, cost-efficiency and sustainability.

Network Rail chairman Richard Parry-Jones said: “Our ability to be more ambitious relies on strengthening collaboration at all levels – across disciplines within Network Rail, between Network Rail and the rail industry, with European and world railways and beyond the rail industry to other technology sectors.

“There must also be a strong connection between long-term planning and long-term technical capability.”

Network Rail said it recognises that in the recent past it has “under-invested in R&D by any benchmarked standard”.