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Research and Development

RSSB manages a programme of research and development (R&D) on behalf of government and the railway industry. The programme is funded by the Department for Transport and aims to assist the industry and its stakeholders in achieving key objectives:

  • Improving performance in terms of health and safety, reliability, and punctuality
  • Increasing capacity and availability
  • Reducing cost
  • Integrating all of these to compete effectively with other transport modes (or complement them as appropriate) and deliver a sustainable future for the railway

The RSSB R&D programme focuses on industry-wide and strategic research that no individual company or sector of the industry can address on its own. It therefore includes research covering ‘systems’ issues across the whole railway, and the engineering interfaces within the railway, as well as the interfaces with other parts of the community. The programme is also instrumental in supporting the development of a future vision for the railways and assessing how that vision can best be delivered.

More detailed information on the R&D Programme and how it is managed is to be found in the Prospectus. Members of the R&D Advisory Group (R&DAG), client groups, technical staff, and suppliers who regularly participate in the research and development programme should refer to A stakeholder's guide to participating in the RSSB-managed rail industry research and development programme. This document clearly states the purpose of the programme, how it is governed and delivered, and the rights and responsibilities of the parties involved.