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.
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Other - Control command and communication (x)
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Rolling stock testing (x)
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Rolling stock asset management (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Overhead line equipment (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)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Safety decision support (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)
Clear date filter (x)
Objectives
Topics
-
Control Command and Communication
- CCC asset management (4)
- CCC system integration and life cycle management (2)
- Control and display systems (16)
- Data and communications systems (45)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (14)
- 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 (39)
- Customer services for passengers (96)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (3)
- Movement of trains (61)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (45)
- Operational Safety (26)
- Other - Operations (32)
- Revenue and ticketing (10)
- Security management (39)
- Stations management and passenger flow (30)
- Traffic supervision and management (43)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (127)
- Culture (56)
- Education and competence (8)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (35)
- Health and wellbeing (83)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (56)
- Human reliability (44)
- Job design (40)
- Selection and training (48)
- Other - People behaviour and health (21)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (40)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (6)
- Rolling stock asset management (29)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (27)
- Rolling stock fire performance (8)
- Rolling stock interiors (4)
- Rolling stock maintenance (43)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (24)
- Rolling stock testing (32)
- Train design - Components (92)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (49)
- Other - Rolling stock (37)
- Safety and Risk
Date
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Research Project
T115
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project developed earlier work led by Railtrack (now Network Rail) to develop a Whole Life Rail Model (WLRM), which encapsulates the industry's… Read More
Research Project
T066a
End Date: 2002
Complete
The research seeks to answer the question as to whether it is safer to remain on the train after an incident or to evacuate. Read More
Research Project
T022
End Date: 2002
Complete
This project examined the effectiveness of Driver Reminder Appliances (DRA) in preventing ‘starting against signal’ Signals Passed at Danger (SPAD). Read More
Research Project
T230b
End Date: 2002
Complete
An investigation into the apparent divergence in public attitudes to railway safety in that the public perceives the railway as a safe form of… Read More
Research Project
T060j
End Date: 2002
Complete
The level of adhesion demanded during braking, and the ability of the railway vehicle and infrastructure to provide it, are critical to maintaining… Read More
Research Project
T060g
End Date: 2002
Complete
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Overview of magnetic brakes (T060g)
Research Project
T024
End Date: 2002
Complete
This project identified various vigilance devices and technologies and evaluated their suitability for use in monitoring and maintaining train driver… Read More
Research Project
T023
End Date: 2002
Complete
This short piece of work was commissioned in the wake of the Hatfield accident to identify the state of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) knowledge at the… Read More
Research Project
T050
End Date: 2002
Complete
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Survey of policies relating to alcohol and substance abuse in a range of industries (T050)
Research Project
T054
End Date: 2002
Complete
This project conducted an independent review of a prototype railhead cleaning system called 'Laserthor', which uses lasers to remove railhead… Read More
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Risk models (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Customer services for passengers (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Vehicle track dynamics (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (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)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Human reliability (x)
Structures (x)
Security management (x)
Job design (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Braking systems (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Power supply (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Rolling stock asset management (x)
Operational Safety (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)
Future technologies (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Education and competence (x)
Accident investigation and learning (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)
RESILIENT (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Objectives
Topics
-
Control Command and Communication
- CCC asset management (4)
- CCC system integration and life cycle management (2)
- Control and display systems (16)
- Data and communications systems (39)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (12)
- Other - Control command and communication (35)
- 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 (30)
- Customer services for passengers (67)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (2)
- Movement of trains (56)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (43)
- Operational Safety (22)
- Other - Operations (25)
- Revenue and ticketing (4)
- Security management (32)
- Stations management and passenger flow (28)
- Traffic supervision and management (31)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (100)
- Culture (43)
- Education and competence (6)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (31)
- Health and wellbeing (63)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (50)
- Human reliability (33)
- Job design (31)
- Selection and training (42)
- Other - People behaviour and health (17)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (28)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (1)
- Rolling stock asset management (23)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (22)
- Rolling stock fire performance (6)
- Rolling stock interiors (4)
- Rolling stock maintenance (34)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (19)
- Rolling stock testing (25)
- Train design - Components (76)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (42)
- Other - Rolling stock (28)
- Safety and Risk
Date
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Research Project
COF-MLD-05
End Date: 2026
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: 2026
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
COF-UOS-06
End Date: 2026
Underway
A PhD studentship looking at how contaminated rail conditions change with the weather, as well as how contamination develops and the linked changes to… Read More
Research Project
COF-MLD-03
End Date: 2025
Underway
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Registered
Exploring late adopters’ engagement with digital technology in the rail sector (COF-MLD-03)
Research Project
T1318
End Date: 2025
Underway
Developing a validated model capable of predicting the growth of rolling contact damage on GB railways. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOS-05
End Date: 2025
Underway
A PhD studentship to improve understanding of low adhesion friction in transience, and develop an on-train prediction system. Read More
Research Project
T1314
End Date: 2025
Underway
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Dynamic seat comfort for passengers (T1314)
Research Project
T1316
End Date: 2025
Underway
Research in response to Recommendation 12 of the RAIB Rail Accident Report into the derailment of a passenger train at Carmont, Aberdeenshire on 12… Read More
Research Project
COF-IAT-01
End Date: 2025
Underway
A PhD to investigate the use of advanced technologies, such as digital twins, to reduce the risks involved in compatibility assurance and approval,… Read More
Research Project
T1325
End Date: 2025
Underway
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Rail Carbon Accounting Framework (T1325)
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Wheel-rail interface (x)
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Value from data (x)
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Keeping on-track staff safe (x)
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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)
FREIGHT (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Status
Topics
- Control Command and Communication
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
- Operations
- People Behaviour and Health
- Policy and Decision Making
- Rolling stock
Programme
Date
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Innovation Project
I01-CLR-06
End Date: 2023
Complete
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Registered
Assisted VSTP (I01-CLR-06)
Innovation Project
SC04-POT-17
End Date: 2021
Underway
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Registered
Powertrain: Dual fuel technology for improving operating costs and emissions from DMU (SC04-POT-17)
Innovation Project
I01-CLR-05
End Date: 2021
Complete
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Registered
Pathfinder (I01-CLR-05)
Innovation Project
I01-CLR-04
End Date: 2021
Complete
Identification of unused train paths for use by freight services as part of the Very Short-Term Planning (VSTP) system. Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-VLR-01
End Date: 2021
Underway
Construction of a hybrid powered very light rail demonstrator vehicle. Read More
Innovation Project
I12-TCV-02
End Date: 2020
Complete
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Registered
Trainserv (I12-TCV-02)
Innovation Project
SC04-POB-13
End Date: 2020
Complete
The project will create an advanced braking control system which optimises the braking performance of the existing friction and dynamic braking. It… Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCF-14
End Date: 2019
Complete
There are opportunities to improve the customer experience through improved tracking of passenger numbers. Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCX-04
End Date: 2019
Complete
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Registered
Intelligent Gatelines (SC12-TCX-04)
Innovation Project
SC04-POB-15
End Date: 2019
Complete
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Registered
Predictable and Optimised Braking: Using cryogenic technology to increase adhesion (SC04-POB-15)
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Vehicle track dynamics (x)
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Energy collection systems (x)
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Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Operational Safety (x)
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Overhead line equipment (x)
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Whole system design and modelling (x)
Education and competence (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
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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)
Other - Energy and electrification (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)
DECARB (x)
PERFORM (x)
RESILIENT (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)
- Movement of trains (1)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (2)
- Operational Safety (4)
- Other - Operations (7)
- Revenue and ticketing (2)
- Security management (7)
- Stations management and passenger flow (2)
- Traffic supervision and management (6)
- People Behaviour and Health
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (5)
- Rolling stock asset management (6)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (5)
- Rolling stock fire performance (2)
- Rolling stock maintenance (9)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (5)
- Rolling stock testing (4)
- Train design - Components (9)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (6)
- Other - Rolling stock (8)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
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Knowledge Search
S330
End Date: 2019
Complete
Changes in European F-Gas legislation are leading to a phase down of many commonly used hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, some of which are used… Read More
Knowledge Search
S334
End Date: 2019
Complete
Reviewing accident data on passenger and driver abdominal injuries from tables and cab desks to support revisions to injury criteria for interior… Read More
Knowledge Search
S323
End Date: 2019
Complete
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Registered
Whole Life Cost Modelling (S323)
Knowledge Search
S331
End Date: 2019
Complete
Does smart phone use by staff that are not engaged in safety-critical activity represent a new safety risk to rail? Read More
Knowledge Search
S335
End Date: 2018
Complete
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Registered
Wheel Wear and Adhesion Modification (S335)
Knowledge Search
S310
End Date: 2018
Complete
Understanding of the governance requirements for successfully implementing smart ticketing and integrated transport. Read More
Knowledge Search
S313
End Date: 2018
Complete
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Registered
Battery Charging Systems (S313)
Knowledge Search
S324
End Date: 2018
Complete
Examining the risk of electric shock to passengers or the public carrying long objects such as selfie sticks or helium balloons, near the overhead… Read More
Knowledge Search
S326
End Date: 2018
Complete
Key aspects of legislature and standardisation important to the development of E-LOBSTER. Read More
Knowledge Search
S332
End Date: 2018
Complete
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Registered