Relationships with other R&D activities

In addition to carrying out R&D itself, the RSSB R&D programme also seeks to obtain benefit for the railways in Britain from collaboration with other research activities.

Promoting research

RSSB participates in the Advisory Group for Rail Research and Innovation (AGRRI), a UK industry forum.

RSSB is a member of the committee responsible for organising the World Congress on Railway Research (www.wcrr2008.org)

RSSB helped to set up Rail Research UK (RRUK), a group of universities who undertake rail-related research with support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and is a member of their advisory board.

RSSB is a member of several research groups including:

• International Railway Research Board (IRRB)
• UIC Research Coordination Group (UIC RCG)

Collaboration with other research establishments

RSSB works with colleagues in the United States of America through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). We also collaborate with other international organisations on a project-by-project basis.

One of the opportunities that RSSB is exploring, is that of providing some form of access to a wide variety of rail industry research, for the benefit of the industry at large. Some of the potential benefits of this are that: research will not be duplicated, it may identify areas of expertise, it may highlight opportunities for cooperation, or co-funding.

As a first step towards that outcome, we have conducted a desk-top review into the availability of UK-based, rail-related research information, and other research of possible interest to the rail industry, all of which can be found on the Internet. The results of that review can be found in the Review of web-based knowledge management assets.

Research Ideas

If you have a specific idea for a research project - whether you are from the railway industry, a potential supplier, or a member of the public - please complete an R&D Idea Form and email it to research@rssb.co.uk. Please note that any research idea may be the subject of competitive tendering.

European Commission research projects

RSSB co-funds and participates in several projects as part of the European Commission (EC) framework programmes.

Projects in which RSSB is involved:

• Safer European Level Crossing Appraisal and Technology (SELCAT)
• Innovative Track Systems (INNOTRACK)
• Safe Interiors (SAFEINTERIORS)
• Galileo for rail (GRAIL)
• Galileo Demonstrator for Railway Operation System (GADEROS)

If you are involved in a relevant research and development programme, and think there is some value in sharing information and ideas with RSSB, please email research@rssb.co.uk.