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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 by entering a title, keyword(s) or project reference number below (e.g. "wayfinding" or T1010 or COF-INP-05) or use the filters to narrow down options.

Showing for
Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) In Preparation (x) Safety (x) Capacity (x) Cost (x) Sustainability (x) Other - Safety and risk (x) Attitudes and behaviour (x) Wheel-rail interface (x) Risk models (x) Sustainable development (x) Customer services for passengers (x) Train design - Components (x) Infrastructure asset management (x) Health and wellbeing (x) Commercial dynamics of transport (x) Other - Policy and decision making (x) Vehicle track dynamics (x) Station design (x) Movement of trains (x) Adaptation to climate change (x) Human performance (x) Culture (x) Track design and components (x) Adhesion (x) Whole system design and modelling (x) Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x) Selection and training (x) Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x) Human reliability (x) Data and communications systems (x) Rolling stock maintenance (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Braking systems (x) Other - Energy and electrification (x) Power supply (x) Job design (x) Customer services for freight (x) Security management (x) Structures (x) Railways Interoperability (x) Other - Rolling stock (x) Other - Control command and communication (x) Other - Infrastructure (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Future technologies (x) Other - Operations (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Value from data (x) Rolling stock asset management (x) Operational Safety (x) Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x) Energy collection systems (x) Rolling stock passenger comfort (x) Other - People behaviour and health (x) Overhead line equipment (x) Aerodynamics (x) Control and display systems (x) Movement authorities and signalling systems (x) Accident investigation and learning (x) Other - Interfaces (x) Safety data analysis (x) Rail Standardisation (x) Safety decision support (x) Revenue and ticketing (x) Safety data collection (x) Education and competence (x) Rolling stock fire performance (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (x) On board power supplies and monitoring (x) Electrical safety (x) Signalling - Train detection systems (x) Rolling stock interiors (x) CCC asset management (x) Signalling - Train protection systems (x) Derailment (x) Keeping on-track staff safe (x) Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x) CCC system integration and life cycle management (x) Gauging (x) Human Factors in event reporting (x) Energy metering and billing (x) ADHERE (x) PERFORM (x) DECARB (x) CLEAR (x) FREIGHT (x) RESILIENT (x) FUTURE RISK (x) Clear date filter (x)

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Research Project
T1336
End Date: 2025
Underway
Developing guidance and training materials to make incident learning reviews more consistent and effective across the industry. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-82
End Date: 2025
Underway
Updating wheel tread damange guidance for operators and maintainers, to reflect current technology and working practices. Read More
Research Project
T1326
End Date: 2025
Underway
Understanding how the introduction of assisted braking and door operation changes the operational profile of the railway. Read More
Research Project
T1333
End Date: 2025
Underway
A framework to help operators safely reduce the frequency of running brake tests. Read More
Research Project
T1325
End Date: 2025
Underway
A set of tools and guidance to align carbon data and accounting across the rail industry and its supply chain. Read More
Research Project
T1332
End Date: 2025
Underway
How mobile phones can help drivers in their tasks, and the requirements these devices will need to meet. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-80
End Date: 2025
Underway
Understanding the combined influence of wheel slide protection system settings and contact conditions on the initiation of rail squat defects. Read More
Research Project
T344
End Date: 2025
Underway
An updated and enhanced model to help operators quantify knock-on risk. Read More
Research Project
T1330
End Date: 2025
Underway
Potential benefits and use cases for fitting sensors on rolling stock and making use of the data. Read More
Research Project
T1279
End Date: 2025
Underway
Establishing bespoke pass and fail thresholds for assessing the severity of colour vision deficiency in mainline train drivers, with respect to their… Read More
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Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) In Preparation (x) Safety (x) Capacity (x) Cost (x) Sustainability (x) Other - Safety and risk (x) Risk models (x) Wheel-rail interface (x) Attitudes and behaviour (x) Infrastructure asset management (x) Sustainable development (x) Train design - Components (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) Other - Policy and decision making (x) Whole system design and modelling (x) Track design and components (x) Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x) Culture (x) Adhesion (x) Selection and training (x) Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x) Data and communications systems (x) Adaptation to climate change (x) Other - Energy and electrification (x) Rolling stock maintenance (x) Other - Control command and communication (x) Human reliability (x) Structures (x) Security management (x) Job design (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Braking systems (x) Customer services for freight (x) Railways Interoperability (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Other - Rolling stock (x) Other - Operations (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Operational Safety (x) Power supply (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Rolling stock asset management (x) Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x) Value from data (x) Other - Infrastructure (x) Rolling stock passenger comfort (x) Other - People behaviour and health (x) Control and display systems (x) Future technologies (x) Aerodynamics (x) Energy collection systems (x) Overhead line equipment (x) Movement authorities and signalling systems (x) Other - Interfaces (x) Safety decision support (x) Safety data analysis (x) Rail Standardisation (x) Safety data collection (x) Accident investigation and learning (x) Education and competence (x) Rolling stock fire performance (x) Signalling - Train detection systems (x) Rolling stock interiors (x) CCC asset management (x) Revenue and ticketing (x) Electrical safety (x) Signalling - Train protection systems (x) Derailment (x) Keeping on-track staff safe (x) Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x) CCC system integration and life cycle management (x) Gauging (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (x) On board power supplies and monitoring (x) Human Factors in event reporting (x) Energy metering and billing (x) ADHERE (x) PERFORM (x) DECARB (x) CLEAR (x) FREIGHT (x) FUTURE RISK (x) RESILIENT (x) Clear date filter (x)

Topics

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Research Project
COF-UOH-74
End Date: 2024
Underway
Developing a version of the LABRADOR low adhesion train braking simulation software that is capable of running in real time. Read More
Research Project
T1303 / COF-ARF
End Date: 2024
Underway
Assessing aerodynamic risk from freight trains, to identify whether and how freight train speeds above 75 mph could be accommodated. Read More
Research Project
T1280
End Date: 2024
Complete
A review of the effectiveness of operators’ policies on the unauthorised presence of mobile smart devices in the driver's cab. Read More
Research Project
T1300
End Date: 2024
Underway
Equipping the industry with a scientific approach to assessing and quantifying the impact of heavier axle weight vehicles on a route-level basis. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOS22-02
End Date: 2024
Complete
AI could help deliver earlier warnings of low adhesion conditions, helping staff make better, more evidence-based decisions about mitigation. Read More
Research Project
T1324
End Date: 2024
Underway
Developing guidance for duty holders and occupational health specialists on how to meet requirements set out in medical standards. Read More
Research Project
T1262
End Date: 2024
Complete
Reviewing existing instructions and practices used during driver-controlled operation, and using this evidence base to identify safe and efficient… Read More
Research Project
T1270
End Date: 2024
Complete
Research into developing a real-time energy management system to better manage supply and demand of power on electrified routes. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-77
End Date: 2024
Underway
To design and implement an automatic/semi-automatic method for updating the berth-to-signal mapping, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of the… Read More
Research Project
T1272
End Date: 2024
Complete
Finding the right level of standardisation to cut costs, increase long term flexibility, and ensure safety. Read More
Showing for
Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) In Preparation (x) Sustainability (x) Safety (x) Capacity (x) Cost (x) Customer services for passengers (x) Sustainable development (x) Adaptation to climate change (x) Energy collection systems (x) Braking systems (x) Train design - Components (x) Power supply (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Future technologies (x) Wheel-rail interface (x) Adhesion (x) On board power supplies and monitoring (x) Customer services for freight (x) Value from data (x) Selection and training (x) Revenue and ticketing (x) Commercial dynamics of transport (x) Data and communications systems (x) Movement of trains (x) Attitudes and behaviour (x) Job design (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Other - Energy and electrification (x) Human performance (x) Human reliability (x) Culture (x) Health and wellbeing (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (x) Vehicle track dynamics (x) Derailment (x) Movement authorities and signalling systems (x) Other - Infrastructure (x) Keeping on-track staff safe (x) Track design and components (x) Overhead line equipment (x) Other - Control command and communication (x) Infrastructure asset management (x) Other - Rolling stock (x) Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x) Other - Policy and decision making (x) Whole system design and modelling (x) Railways Interoperability (x) Education and competence (x) Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x) Rolling stock interiors (x) Other - Operations (x) Signalling - Train detection systems (x) Safety decision support (x) Safety data analysis (x) CCC asset management (x) Control and display systems (x) Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x) Rolling stock maintenance (x) CCC system integration and life cycle management (x) Security management (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Gauging (x) Electrical safety (x) Rolling stock asset management (x) Rolling stock passenger comfort (x) Risk models (x) Aerodynamics (x) Structures (x) Signalling - Train protection systems (x) Other - People behaviour and health (x) Other - Safety and risk (x) Station design (x) Accident investigation and learning (x) Human Factors in event reporting (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Operational Safety (x) Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x) Rolling stock fire performance (x) Rail Standardisation (x) Other - Interfaces (x) Energy metering and billing (x) Safety data collection (x) DECARB (x) ADHERE (x) PERFORM (x) RESILIENT (x) CLEAR (x) FUTURE RISK (x) FREIGHT (x) Clear date filter (x)

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Innovation Project
SC04-POB-16
End Date: 2019
Complete
A robust, simple and low-cost solution to deliver improvements in adhesion by delivering a small amount of water to the rails in front of the train in… Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-POB-12
End Date: 2019
Complete
This braking solution uses known technology in a novel way to improve train braking performance, even in low-adhesion conditions. The 'Zero Wheel Slip… Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCX-05
End Date: 2019
Complete
Understanding what causes stress for passengers on their Northern rail journeys. Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCF-09
End Date: 2019
Complete
WiFi data transmission speeds between trackside and train do not provide sufficient capacity to support the government's commitment to WiFi for all… Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-POB-14
End Date: 2019
Complete
Using plasma technology to clear the residue from railhead, returning the surface to a dry, clean and uncontaminated state with detriment to the rail… Read More
Innovation Project
SC03-REP-01
End Date: 2019
Complete
Construction of a hybrid powered very light rail demonstrator vehicle. Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-POT-14
End Date: 2019
Complete
A new type of high-efficiency hydraulic transmission for diesel powered rail vehicles that enables the recovery of braking energy. Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCX-09
End Date: 2018
Complete
Department for Transport 2015 Transport and Disability statistics report 9 per cent of adults as having a mobility difficulty. However, Transport For… Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-POT-16
End Date: 2018
Complete
Use of Flywheel Technology as energy storage to create a hybrid flywheel powertrain to reduce emissions and fuel consumption by recovering braking… Read More
Innovation Project
SC06-ACC-03
End Date: 2018
Complete
The existing passenger assistance process is fundamentally flawed and is preventing disabled passengers from accessing the UK rail network. Read More
Showing for
Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) In Preparation (x) Sustainability (x) Safety (x) Capacity (x) Cost (x) Attitudes and behaviour (x) Other - Safety and risk (x) Health and wellbeing (x) Customer services for passengers (x) Other - Policy and decision making (x) Sustainable development (x) Station design (x) Other - Infrastructure (x) Future technologies (x) Adaptation to climate change (x) Culture (x) Power supply (x) Infrastructure asset management (x) Rolling stock maintenance (x) Human reliability (x) Commercial dynamics of transport (x) Train design - Components (x) Railways Interoperability (x) Wheel-rail interface (x) Track design and components (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Other - Rolling stock (x) Other - Operations (x) Security management (x) Accident investigation and learning (x) Job design (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Rolling stock asset management (x) Structures (x) Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x) Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x) Value from data (x) Vehicle track dynamics (x) Braking systems (x) Rolling stock passenger comfort (x) Risk models (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Energy collection systems (x) Customer services for freight (x) Other - People behaviour and health (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Operational Safety (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (x) Human performance (x) Overhead line equipment (x) Adhesion (x) Whole system design and modelling (x) Education and competence (x) Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x) Selection and training (x) Other - Energy and electrification (x) Revenue and ticketing (x) Stations management and passenger flow (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) 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) Keeping on-track staff safe (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) 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) FREIGHT (x) Clear date filter (x)

Topics

Programme

Date

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Knowledge Search
S163
End Date: 2013
Complete
What are the safety implications of the transport of unevenly loaded container wagons on road and rail? Read More
Knowledge Search
S166
End Date: 2013
Complete
Exploring how the risk factors associated with train dispatch are understood and assessed in other countries. Read More
Knowledge Search
S178
End Date: 2013
Complete
 Are there opportunities to reduce the costs associated with training train drivers? Read More
Knowledge Search
S173
End Date: 2013
Complete
What can be done about the problem of electrical damage in bearings?  Read More
Knowledge Search
S117
End Date: 2013
Complete
Use of social media for general communication is now routine in many organisations but its relevance to emergency situations is less well… Read More
Knowledge Search
S159
End Date: 2013
Complete
Enthusiasts have long promoted hydrogen as a source of traction energy in transport, but what do its prospects look like now? Read More
Knowledge Search
S161
End Date: 2013
Complete
A growing public awareness of sustainability has led engineers, architects and project managers in the construction industry to focus on new ways of… Read More
Knowledge Search
S171
End Date: 2013
Complete
An annual update looking at how changes in the railway environment are likely to affect risk in the short to medium term. Read More
Knowledge Search
S132
End Date: 2013
Complete
How do other industries learn from accidents, and what changes do accidents tend to bring about?  Read More
Knowledge Search
S174
End Date: 2013
Complete