Transport technology business secures government-backed funding

Transport technology business, Incremental, is celebrating success in the government-backed ‘First of a Kind’ funding competition.

The York-based businesses is one of 30 successful applicants from 160 entries, that will bring its ground-breaking freight train location tracking solution, ‘TRACO’ (TRAnsition COnnectivity for trains and trucks), to fruition.

The business will receive a share of £9million to actualise its pioneering technology solution and bolsters the UK Government’s commitment to deliver a more reliable, efficient and greener railway as it builds back better from the impact of Covid-19.

The ‘First of a Kind’ competition was launched in 2018 by the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), a collaboration between the Department for Transport and Innovate UK. This is the third time the Incremental team has been recognised by the partnership and awarded funding support to help accelerate the delivery of its cutting-edge solutions.

Designed to meet common challenges faced by UK rail freight operators, Incremental’s ‘TRACO’ looks to use its sophisticated GPS system to track goods across rail, road and ports to provide the supply chain with the most accurate and credible intermodal data available.

The system’s ability to track a freight unit anywhere on the network, including sidings and depots, enables the entire logistical supply chain to be aware of its progress, respond to any delays or disruption and predict the train’s arrival at its end destination. Additionally, by further tracking freight across onward modal transitions, such as road haulage, end-to-end freight journeys can be tracked down to container level allowing all parties to capitalise on efficiencies.

Daniel Lee-Bursnall, co-founder and chief executive officer at Incremental, said: “With the creation and recognition of ‘TRACO’, our fantastic team has made us proud once again. This success is further testament that Incremental conceives, designs and delivers innovative solutions that benefit the rail industry and the wider UK economy.

“We consistently create visionary technology to help solve challenges faced by the rail industry, and we’re excited to bring our expertise to the freight sector for the first time with ‘TRACO’. We’re thrilled that the SBRI has acknowledged us once again and we can’t wait to get started.”