Thursday 22 Oct 2026
First AI apprentices join Britain's railway
- Region & Route:
- National
The first cohort of Artificial Intelligence Engineering Apprentices has joined Britain's railway.
Based in York and London, the new apprentices will combine specialist learning with hands-on experience, building the skills needed to support the safe and responsible adoption of AI across the rail industry.
This long-term, industry-wide scheme comes six months after GBRX - the strategic technology and innovation body for Great British Railways - presented its ‘Artificial Intelligence in Rail: The Industry Action Plan’ which identified capability as a key constraint for AI adoption.
The launch of the programme follows two other actions taken by GBRX since the Action Plan was unveiled:
- Setting clear priorities for where AI can have the greatest impact across rail
- Establishing the AI Incubator Accelerator (AIIA) to connect expertise and deliver the Action Plan across the industry
Their placements will be distributed throughout the railway industry and coordinated through the AI Incubator Accelerator (AIIA), building skills within individual organisations while strengthening capability across the sector.
The programme also supports the government’s wider drive to strengthen the rail skills pipeline. The Department for Transport recently announced that up to 600 young people aged 16 to 21 will join a new Great British Railways rail foundation apprenticeship over the next four years, with the first cohort based in Derby.
AI apprentice Kirsty Duenas, said: “I'm so excited that the AI scheme has given me the opportunity to learn about and see how AI is used in ways I didn't even think of. I enjoy seeing it in action in the industry and it's great to become involved with using it in that way.”
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: "We're investing in the future talent and expertise that will bring the rail network into the 21st century.
"These AI apprenticeships, alongside the new GBR rail foundation apprenticeships, mark the start of a new era for the sector as we work to set up Great British Railways, one where cutting-edge technology and skilled people work hand in hand to transform how our railway runs.
"This is about investing in the railway of tomorrow and I'm proud to welcome this talented first cohort on board."
Toufic Machnouk, Managing Director of GBRX, added: “A plan on paper will not deliver our ambition, capability is the constraint and the action we are taking responds to that. We launched the AI apprenticeship programme to create sustainable skills for the future bringing together a unique blend of expertise in both AI and rail. Now, just five months later, I am proud to say that the first cohort of AI apprentices has joined Britain’s railway.”
Notes to Editors
20 apprentices started on Tuesday 22 September 2026. Forming two cohorts based in York and London.
The programme also demonstrates how Network Rail, DFTO and the wider industry, together are working to build the skills and capabilities needed across the future Great British Railways organisation. Network Rail alone has welcomed around 300 apprentices this year across engineering, business, IT and finance, and was ranked fourth in the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for 2026.
About GBRX: GBRX is the strategic technology and innovation body for Great British Railways. Its purpose is to overcome adoption barriers to strategic technologies that improve how the system works for people and to create sustainable skills for the future.
Further statements:
Richard Turner, Network Rail’s Head of Apprenticeships, said: “These new AI apprentices are a welcome addition to the railway and will help build the skills we need for the future. By combining specialist learning with practical experience across the industry, the programme will create valuable capability and open up exciting career opportunities for young people.”
Steph Oerton Head of Leadership, Learning and Organisational Capability, DFTO, said: “The new apprenticeships show much more than strong collaboration and new opportunities across the rail industry. They will help to build practical AI capability within different parts of the railway, from train operators to the supply chain. The apprentices will address real operational challenges and work across organisations to deliver improvements for our customers.”
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