SPARK is designed to be a fairly powerful and effective tool for an on-line community of rail specialists and innovators.

Access is controlled with the aim of enhancing the quality of the debate and information, reducing the need for moderation and acting as an incentive for companies to share their own knowledge.

People who use SPARK will fall into one of the following categories:

• Personnel in RSSB member companies like Network Rail, the train and freight operating companies, rolling stock companies, infrastructure maintenance contractors, suppliers as well as people who work for RSSB itself. SPARK is a free service for these types of users.
• Personnel in non-RSSB member organisations which have entered into a knowledge sharing partnership with RSSB. ‘Knowledge sharing partners’, are organisations willing to exchange details of key activities, research projects and publications on a regular basis  – usually by formal agreement.  These organisations include other railway administrations and research organisations. RSSB is actively seeking new knowledge sharing partners.
• Registered academic researchers of Rail Research UK Association (RRUK-A) (go to the RRUK-A website for information about your university’s membership and registering as a researcher)
• Other named individuals which include members of cross-industry groups or particular specialists not included in the above categories.

If you work for an RSSB member organisation and you would like to register for access to SPARK, please go to the SPARK home page: http://spark.rssb.co.uk.

To discuss opportunities for entering into knowledge sharing partnerships, or for more information, contact the SPARK team.