L.B. Foster Celebrates Regional Win at 2025 ERCI Innovation Awards for Innovative Digital Help Point

Selected from a strong field of 20 submissions, L.B. Foster’s entry was recognised by the Rail Forum in the UK regional round for its contribution to digital passenger communications across the rail sector.

The ERCI Innovation Awards celebrate outstanding technological innovation and impact in the rail industry across Europe. L.B. Foster’s Digital Help Point was commended for its transformative approach to accessible and real-time communication, enhancing the passenger experience while supporting station staff and operations.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have been named a regional winner,” said Dave Clarke, Director of Sales & Marketing, L.B. Foster Europe. “Our Digital Help Point is the result of deep collaboration between train operating companies, passenger bodies, and accessibility groups. It’s designed to support a more inclusive, connected, and efficient rail network.  That’s something that’s becoming increasingly vital as the rail sector embraces digital transformation.”

The L.B. Foster Digital Help Point is designed to meet modern expectations for communication in transit environments. The Digital Help Point redefines how passengers interact with station infrastructure, especially those who are vulnerable or need immediate assistance. It features high-definition video calling, built-in accessibility tools, and IoT integration.

As a Rail Forum Regional Round Winner, L.B. Foster now advances to the next judging phase, where a pan-European panel representing each ERCI member cluster will determine this year’s overall winners. Final results are expected later in July, with an award ceremony to be held in Milan this September.

Catherine Appleby, Membership & Engagement Director at Rail Forum, commented: “The Rail Forum Panel were impressed by the range of submissions, having impact across all of the scoring themes and reminding us of the great strength the UK offers around problem-solving and challenge-led innovation. “It is the responsibility of the whole industry to actively support and nurture innovation across rail and we encourage the wider industry to continue to be receptive to ideas, respective of intellectual property and welcoming for testing and demonstration. Our congratulations to the Regional Winners across the three UK clusters: Rail Forum, BRIC and Rail Cluster Scotland, and the very best of luck for the finals.”

As the award journey progresses, the Rail Forum is committed to supporting winners and entrants in raising awareness of their innovations. Planned initiatives include a dedicated ERCI Awards web page, promotional materials, and potential video case studies showcasing the real-world impact of each entry.

L.B. Foster looks forward to sharing more about the Digital Help Point in the coming weeks, as it continues to support the rail industry’s digital transformation.

Stay informed and ahead with our Inform Displays. Providing up-to-the-minute travel information to passengers and staff, these displays are essential in reducing uncertainty and enabling better travel planning. From departure times to gate changes, our displays ensure that passengers have the most accurate and timely information at their fingertips.