Research Catalogue
Welcome to the RSSB research catalogue. The catalogue contains all projects from the 20+ years of the RSSB rail research programme. Please be mindful of the publication date when accessing findings and guidance.
Search for specific research using Ask RSSB or our site search, or use the filters to narrow down options.
Showing for
Applied filters:
Complete (x)
Underway (x)
Safety (x)
Capacity (x)
Sustainability (x)
Cost (x)
Customer (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Risk models (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Customer services for passengers (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
Station design (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Vehicle track dynamics (x)
Culture (x)
Movement of trains (x)
Human performance (x)
Adhesion (x)
Track design and components (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Selection and training (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Power supply (x)
Data and communications systems (x)
Structures (x)
Human reliability (x)
Job design (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Security management (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Braking systems (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Value from data (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Future technologies (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Rolling stock asset management (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Education and competence (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Rolling stock fire performance (x)
Electrical safety (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Rolling stock interiors (x)
Signalling - Train detection systems (x)
CCC system integration and life cycle management (x)
Keeping on-track staff safe (x)
CCC asset management (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Signalling - Train protection systems (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
Derailment (x)
Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x)
Gauging (x)
Trespass (x)
Human Factors in event reporting (x)
Energy metering and billing (x)
ADHERE (x)
PERFORM (x)
FREIGHT (x)
DECARB (x)
CLEAR (x)
Enabling AI in Rail (x)
FUTURE RISK (x)
RESILIENT (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Status
Topics
-
Control Command and Communication
- CCC asset management (4)
- CCC system integration and life cycle management (5)
- Control and display systems (16)
- Data and communications systems (43)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (18)
- Other - Control command and communication (36)
- Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (2)
- Signalling - Train detection systems (5)
- Signalling - Train protection systems (4)
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
-
Operations
- Customer services for freight (48)
- Customer services for passengers (94)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (4)
- Movement of trains (56)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (47)
- Operational Safety (39)
- Other - Operations (33)
- Revenue and ticketing (4)
- Security management (37)
- Stations management and passenger flow (30)
- Traffic supervision and management (38)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (125)
- Culture (56)
- Education and competence (13)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (40)
- Health and wellbeing (94)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (55)
- Human reliability (41)
- Job design (40)
- Selection and training (51)
- Trespass (1)
- Other - People behaviour and health (20)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (35)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (3)
- Rolling stock asset management (30)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (29)
- Rolling stock fire performance (9)
- Rolling stock interiors (5)
- Rolling stock maintenance (45)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (32)
- Rolling stock testing (30)
- Train design - Components (90)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (49)
- Other - Rolling stock (36)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Research Project
COF-UOS-07
End Date: 2029
Underway
Registered
Assessing Performance of Low Adhesion Mitigations and Defining Application Protocol (COF-UOS-07)
Research Project
COF-RCF-01
End Date: 2029
Underway
A PhD project using modelling to establish the relationship between the microstructure or rail steel and crack initiation. Read More
Research Project
T1385
End Date: 2028
Underway
Developing bespoke colour vision thresholds for safety critical staff on the mainline railway. Read More
Research Project
T1379
End Date: 2028
Underway
Validating current standardised and non-standardised train driver selection assessments to improve fairness and reliability,
and align these to the… Read More
Research Project
T1408
End Date: 2027
Underway
Helping operators to introduce structured hazard perception training, to improve safety and driver confidence. Read More
Research Project
T1421
End Date: 2027
Underway
More consistent braking within freight trains will help to reduce wheel flats and associated derailment risks. Read More
Research Project
T1374
End Date: 2027
Underway
This research will examine how extreme weather is affecting railway safety risk and make those effects more visible in the Precursor Indicator Model,… Read More
Research Project
T1418
End Date: 2027
Underway
A strategy to remove higher-risk and higher-cost 3rd rail sections using traction batteries retrofitted to existing EMUs.
Read More
Research Project
T1402
End Date: 2027
Underway
Assessing the regulatory impact on PFAS use in railway applications and indentifying potential alternatives. Read More
Research Project
T1432
End Date: 2027
Underway
Developing an evidence-based understanding of how children and young people perceive and respond to risk at
level crossings, and identifying how to… Read More
Showing for
Applied filters:
Complete (x)
Underway (x)
Safety (x)
Capacity (x)
Cost (x)
Sustainability (x)
Customer (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Risk models (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
Customer services for passengers (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
Vehicle track dynamics (x)
Movement of trains (x)
Human performance (x)
Station design (x)
Adhesion (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Selection and training (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Track design and components (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Culture (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Data and communications systems (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Structures (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Job design (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Power supply (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Human reliability (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Braking systems (x)
Security management (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Value from data (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Rolling stock asset management (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Future technologies (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Education and competence (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Rolling stock fire performance (x)
Rolling stock interiors (x)
Signalling - Train detection systems (x)
CCC system integration and life cycle management (x)
Electrical safety (x)
CCC asset management (x)
Signalling - Train protection systems (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
Keeping on-track staff safe (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Derailment (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x)
Gauging (x)
Trespass (x)
Human Factors in event reporting (x)
Energy metering and billing (x)
ADHERE (x)
PERFORM (x)
FREIGHT (x)
DECARB (x)
CLEAR (x)
Enabling AI in Rail (x)
FUTURE RISK (x)
RESILIENT (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Status
Topics
-
Control Command and Communication
- CCC asset management (4)
- CCC system integration and life cycle management (5)
- Control and display systems (16)
- Data and communications systems (41)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (17)
- Other - Control command and communication (36)
- Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (2)
- Signalling - Train detection systems (5)
- Signalling - Train protection systems (4)
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
-
Operations
- Customer services for freight (44)
- Customer services for passengers (76)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (3)
- Movement of trains (55)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (45)
- Operational Safety (32)
- Other - Operations (26)
- Revenue and ticketing (2)
- Security management (29)
- Stations management and passenger flow (27)
- Traffic supervision and management (32)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (99)
- Culture (44)
- Education and competence (11)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (33)
- Health and wellbeing (68)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (51)
- Human reliability (32)
- Job design (34)
- Selection and training (47)
- Trespass (1)
- Other - People behaviour and health (16)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (29)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (3)
- Rolling stock asset management (24)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (23)
- Rolling stock fire performance (7)
- Rolling stock interiors (5)
- Rolling stock maintenance (36)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (25)
- Rolling stock testing (26)
- Train design - Components (79)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (43)
- Other - Rolling stock (28)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Research Project
T1417
End Date: 2027
Underway
Understanding current ramp arrangements, defining requirements, and identifying pathways for future innovation and testing. Read More
Research Project
T1342
End Date: 2027
Underway
Modelling the potential consequences of a train collisions and derailments for different train types, speeds, lengths, and loading.
Read More
Research Project
COF-MLD-05
End Date: 2027
Underway
This study aims to understand the uncertainty in people’s perceptions of rail transit experience and investigate how these uncertainties impact… Read More
Research Project
COF-MLD-04
End Date: 2027
Underway
A framework for capturing and assessing customer feedback in the rail industry to help understand passenger experience in greater depth. Read More
Research Project
T1400
End Date: 2027
Underway
Making sure that external train lighting gives enough warning of an oncoming train; and the feasility of automated headlight technology on rail… Read More
Research Project
T1425
End Date: 2027
Underway
A deep dive into the data collected during freight static brake testing trials, to better understand the factors leading to wheel flats. Read More
Research Project
T1414
End Date: 2027
Underway
Registered
Testing the feasibility of the use of solar reflective solutions on rolling stock (T1414)
Research Project
T1407
End Date: 2027
Underway
This project aims to support station managers in improving ventilation and air quality. Read More
Research Project
COF-ECO-20
End Date: 2027
Underway
'Rules of thumb' for early appraisal, to determine whether to develop a full business case for a new station. Read More
Research Project
T1352
End Date: 2027
Underway
Registered
Characterising longitudinal brake forces and defining operational safe threshold limits (T1352)
Showing for
Applied filters:
Complete (x)
Underway (x)
Safety (x)
Sustainability (x)
Customer (x)
Capacity (x)
Cost (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Customer services for passengers (x)
Station design (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Future technologies (x)
Culture (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
Power supply (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Human reliability (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Track design and components (x)
Security management (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Job design (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Braking systems (x)
Rolling stock asset management (x)
Structures (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Value from data (x)
Vehicle track dynamics (x)
Risk models (x)
Adhesion (x)
Selection and training (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Human performance (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Education and competence (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Data and communications systems (x)
Electrical safety (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Rolling stock fire performance (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Keeping on-track staff safe (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Movement of trains (x)
Rolling stock interiors (x)
Derailment (x)
Signalling - Train detection systems (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
Safety decision support (x)
CCC asset management (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x)
CCC system integration and life cycle management (x)
Gauging (x)
Signalling - Train protection systems (x)
Trespass (x)
Human Factors in event reporting (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Energy metering and billing (x)
ADHERE (x)
CLEAR (x)
FUTURE RISK (x)
DECARB (x)
PERFORM (x)
RESILIENT (x)
Enabling AI in Rail (x)
FREIGHT (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Status
Objectives
Topics
- Control Command and Communication
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
-
Operations
- Customer services for freight (4)
- Customer services for passengers (18)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (1)
- Movement of trains (1)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (2)
- Operational Safety (6)
- Other - Operations (7)
- Revenue and ticketing (2)
- Security management (8)
- Stations management and passenger flow (3)
- Traffic supervision and management (6)
- People Behaviour and Health
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (6)
- Rolling stock asset management (6)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (6)
- Rolling stock fire performance (2)
- Rolling stock maintenance (9)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (7)
- Rolling stock testing (4)
- Train design - Components (11)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (6)
- Other - Rolling stock (8)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Knowledge Search
S380
End Date: 2025
Complete
Registered
Hydrogen as a combustion fuel (S380)
Knowledge Search
S386
End Date: 2025
Complete
Registered
Freight train braking (S386)
Knowledge Search
S387
End Date: 2025
Complete
Looking at the levels of CO2 in passenger carriages, and whether current standards ensure passenger health and comfort. Read More
Knowledge Search
S381
End Date: 2025
Complete
An overview of the factors that affect the build-up of leaf fall contamination, the relationship between different types of contamination, and the… Read More
Knowledge Search
S388
End Date: 2025
Complete
Looking for scientific evidence that people get more tired after meals, and what might mititgate any risks. Read More
Knowledge Search
S385
End Date: 2024
Complete
The potential of body armour to protect rail staff against violent incidents. Read More
Knowledge Search
S384
End Date: 2024
Complete
Could personal health monitoring devices reduce the wearer’s risk of incapacity and allow them to return to work? Read More
Knowledge Search
S379
End Date: 2024
Complete
Registered
Fitness to Work (S379)
Knowledge Search
S375
End Date: 2024
Complete
Registered
Sensors and the Internet of Things (S375)
Knowledge Search
S378
End Date: 2024
Complete
A review of the literature on shift work and its impact on fatigue, accidents and broader aspects of health. Read More