As 2025 draws to a close, I am proud to reflect on a year of strong progress and impactful achievements at the the Hong Kong Branch of the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (CNERC-Rail (HK Branch)). Building on our mission to advance rail transit electrification, automation and resilient infrastructure, our centre has delivered notable scientific breakthroughs, accelerated technology translation, expanded international collaborations, and deepened our commitment to talent cultivation. These accomplishments position us well to drive innovation that supports Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and national rail modernization priorities.
Scientifically, we have made important advances across multiple frontiers. Breakthroughs in intelligent operation and maintenance and noise‑control technologies—illustrated by our optimized acoustic metamaterial barriers developed with CRRC Tangshan—have demonstrated clear benefits for operational safety, efficiency and environmental impact. Progress in UAV‑enabled geological hazard mitigation, obstacle detection, and intelligent maglev control further illustrates the breadth of our work. We also launched the “Intelligent Tropical‑Storm‑Resilient System for Coastal Cities” project; a key outcome from this programme was published in a Nature Partner Journal, underscoring the international quality and relevance of our research. Recognition of our team’s efforts was further affirmed when Prof. Yi‑Qing Ni received PolyU’s President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.
On the technology front, we advanced multiple flagship directions. We delivered field‑validated engineering outcomes — notably the E1809 fastener clip replacement at the Diamond Hill–Kai Tak tight‑curve section, which resolved clip fatigue through resonance avoidance; city‑scale and vehicle‑mounted LiDAR deployments for real‑time wind and rainfall mapping and typhoon monitoring; and long‑term MiC lightweight concrete slab monitoring for construction quality assurance. We also progressed prototypes and pilots in flexible sensing, acoustic metamaterials for noise reduction, UAV‑enabled hazard detection, intelligent maglev control, and an LLM‑based tunnel defect analysis agent integrated with segmentation tools and RAG capability.
Operationally, we will strengthen collaboration with Hong Kong MTR Corporation Ltd., the Hong Kong Observatory and GBA partners to enable real‑time measurement, meteorological integration and coordinated pilot schedules. We will prioritise resilience of monitoring networks through edge hardening and standardized operation and maintenance procedures, and we will continue to front‑load laboratory validation to mitigate external constraints on field pilots.
In 2026 we will focus on three interlinked thrusts: industrialisation, intelligent operation and maintenance at scale, talent and standards. First, we will fast‑track GBA pilot deployments and industry partnerships to scale flexible sensors, acoustic energy harvesters and metamaterial noise solutions toward commercial readiness. Second, we will complete and deploy AI‑driven predictive maintenance modules and digital‑twin frameworks for automated diagnostics and prognostics, with measurable targets for fault‑prediction accuracy and inspection time reduction. Third, we will expand strategic recruitment under PolyU’s hiring plan, train compound experts in climate‑compound hazards and AI, and implement our succession plan to develop future Centre leadership. We will also engage regulators and standards bodies to convert validated solutions into technical guidelines and standards.
CNERC‑Rail enters 2026 with a clear strategic pathway: convert prototypes into repeatable engineering solutions, accelerate technology transfer and commercialisation, and codify best practices into standards that benefit Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and beyond. I thank our researchers, technical staff, students, industry collaborators and funding partners for their commitment. Together, we will build on 2025’s breakthroughs and deliver robust, low‑carbon, and AI‑enabled rail solutions that serve society.
