Ceit launches InspectRail – its new startup specialising in the inspection and monitoring of railway infrastructure

The Ceit Technology Centre has launched a new startup to develop and commercialise inspection solutions for the digital transformation of railway maintenance.

InspectRail provides a pioneering comprehensive solution, as it embeds inspection systems in railway vehicles, thus enabling inspection frequency to be increased and facilitating the digitalisation of maintenance.

InspectRail will be officially launched at the international Rail Live fair, which will bring together the key players, experts and leading companies in the rail industry on a global level.

Donostia-San Sebastián, 21st November 2023. The Ceit Technology Centre, member of the BRTA alliance, has launched InspectRail, its latest startup devoted to the development and commercialisation of inspection solutions for the digital transformation of railway maintenance. With the backing of the Basque Government and the SPRI Group via the Basque Tek Ventures initiative, this new startup consolidates Ceit’s commitment to innovation in the sector.

Focus on integration of embedded systems in railway vehicles

InspectRail came into being as a pioneering comprehensive solution to optimise the functioning, management and maintenance of railway infrastructures. This approach provides a more complete, detailed overview of the state of railway infrastructure, constituting a milestone in terms of improvement in efficiency and safety within the sector.

«With InspectRail, rail is taking a crucial step towards digitalisation by promoting safety and profitability in terms of transport. InspectRail is a comprehensive solution that enables faults to be prevented and opportunities for improvement in maintenance of the railway infrastructure detected,» Pablo Burgos, CEO of InspectRail, explains.

Assessment of geometry and track quality, wear-and-tear to rails, the state of wireless communications, the dynamic interaction between pantograph and overhead power cables, the state of signals and conditions regarding vegetation are just some of the aspects covered by Inspectrail with a view to preventing incidents, reducing risks and improving operativional efficiency.

«With InspectRail, rail is pressing ahead, definitively paving a new way for the future of railway transport », Pablo adds.

A further step in Ceit’s trajectory

This launch constitutes a further step in the solid trajectory of Ceit, which now has 19 spin-offs on the market, including companies such as Lander and MainRail in the railway sector, and which consolidates the path towards a more state-of-the-art railway future.

Specifically, InspectRail emerged from collaboration among researchers from different groups at Ceit (Information Technologies, Rail, Smart Systems and Sustainable Transport). «This collaboration enables a product with high added value to be made available which, unlike the competition, integrates different technologies with a view to holistically inspecting railway infrastructure, thus providing greater safety and efficiency», Antonio Gonzalez Prada, director of Technological Transfer at Ceit, explains.

Official launching at Railive, the international fair of the rail sector

InspectRail will be officially launched from 29th November to 1st December at the international Rail Live rail fair. This event brings together the key players, experts and leading companies in the rail industry on a global level. Within this context, Ceit will be displaying InspectRail innovations, capacities and their impact on railway inspection and maintenance in detail at its C092 stand.