Successful trials of AI-based technology from Alstom and Swedish start-up Flox Intelligence show strong potential to significantly reduce collisions with wildlife — contributing to safer, more reliable rail networks.
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Alstom and Flox Intelligence revolutionise rail safety with on-board AI.
Press releases
- AI instantly detects the presence of animals near the tracks and activates appropriate deterrents to keep them away.
- By limiting collisions, the project aims to optimise train punctuality, protect biodiversity, and give drivers a safer, calmer working environment.
- Wildlife strikes are one of the most common causes of disruption on Swedish railways — around 5,000 animal collisions are reported every year.
11 May 2026 — Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, together with Flox Intelligence, is conducting extensive field tests of AI technology that identifies and deters wildlife along the tracks. The tests show that the system has great potential to reduce the risk of collisions with wild animals.
“Our field tests show that AI has the potential to identify animals with high precision. By combining our expertise in wildlife deterrence with Alstom’s leadership in railway innovation, we create a solution that both protects animals and increases operational reliability,” says Sara Nozkova, CEO of Flox Intelligence.
“We were pleasantly surprised at how many animals we could observe from just a single train, on sections that had many collisions. By reducing train-wildlife collisions, we protect passengers and wildlife while also addressing the operational and societal costs of these incidents.”
Maria Signal MarteboManaging Director, Alstom Sweden
Collaborative work to develop the system’s efficiency
The technology is based on AI-powered cameras that identify animals in real time and activate tailored audio signals to move them off the tracks. In a first phase, the AI identified several species along the lines — including moose, roe deer, fox, and wild boar. A second phase, launched in April 2026, expanded to the full system with both video detection and sound deterrence.
The tests were carried out with the regional train authority Tåg i Bergslagen and its operator VR on several Swedish lines — Dalabanan, Bergslagsbanan, Godsstråket through Bergslagen, and Bergslagspendeln. The project is funded with support from Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency, as part of Sweden’s and the EU’s work toward safe, sustainable transport.
New knowledge about wildlife in railway environments
The system has identified not only large wild animals, but also smaller species and birds rarely recorded in railway statistics. Each detection is categorised — a process that lets the AI continuously improve. During the tests, it proved particularly accurate for farm animals and birds such as crows and pigeons, while moose and roe deer required more training to reach the same accuracy.
Every year, around 5,000 animal collisions are reported in Sweden. Beyond the suffering caused to animals, these accidents lead to delays, repair costs, emotional impact on drivers, and lost production. By reducing them, the project contributes to greater punctuality, less impact on nature, and a better working environment.
Alstom’s Innovation Station in Stockholm
Opened in 2023 to accelerate technological development in the transport sector, Alstom’s Innovation Station serves as a hub for collaborations with leading start-ups and operators across the Nordics — and has been instrumental in the joint work with Flox Intelligence.
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