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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Train design - Components (x)
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Human performance (x)
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Whole system design and modelling (x)
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Other - Energy and electrification (x)
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Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
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Railways Interoperability (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
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Other - Infrastructure (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
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Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Education and competence (x)
Rolling stock fire performance (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Electrical safety (x)
Rolling stock interiors (x)
Signalling - Train detection systems (x)
CCC system integration and life cycle management (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)
Gauging (x)
Trespass (x)
Human Factors in event reporting (x)
Energy metering and billing (x)
ADHERE (x)
PERFORM (x)
DECARB (x)
FREIGHT (x)
CLEAR (x)
Enabling AI in Rail (x)
RESILIENT (x)
FUTURE RISK (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 (47)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (19)
- 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 (102)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (3)
- Movement of trains (60)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (46)
- Operational Safety (36)
- Other - Operations (33)
- Revenue and ticketing (8)
- Security management (40)
- Stations management and passenger flow (30)
- Traffic supervision and management (44)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (129)
- Culture (57)
- Education and competence (9)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (37)
- Health and wellbeing (93)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (55)
- Human reliability (44)
- Job design (43)
- Selection and training (51)
- Trespass (1)
- Other - People behaviour and health (20)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (42)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (8)
- Rolling stock asset management (29)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (28)
- Rolling stock fire performance (9)
- Rolling stock interiors (5)
- Rolling stock maintenance (45)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (29)
- Rolling stock testing (33)
- Train design - Components (93)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (50)
- Other - Rolling stock (37)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
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Research Project
T091
End Date: 2002
Complete
This project identified the train parameters required to enable the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) to understand the physical… 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
Registered
Overview of magnetic brakes (T060g)
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
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
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
Research Project
T060n
End Date: 2002
Complete
The criteria against which wheelsets are managed have been established over very many years, some going back 50 years. This research conducts a review… Read More
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Other - Safety and risk (x)
Risk models (x)
Wheel-rail interface (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)
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Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Human performance (x)
Adhesion (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Track design and components (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Selection and training (x)
Culture (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Data and communications systems (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Structures (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Job design (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Security management (x)
Human reliability (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Braking systems (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Power supply (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Value from data (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Rolling stock asset management (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (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)
Aerodynamics (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Education and competence (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)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Derailment (x)
Keeping on-track staff safe (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)
DECARB (x)
FREIGHT (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 (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 (39)
- Customer services for passengers (73)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (2)
- Movement of trains (55)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (44)
- Operational Safety (29)
- Other - Operations (26)
- Revenue and ticketing (2)
- Security management (32)
- Stations management and passenger flow (28)
- Traffic supervision and management (32)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (100)
- Culture (43)
- Education and competence (7)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (32)
- Health and wellbeing (67)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (48)
- Human reliability (32)
- Job design (34)
- Selection and training (44)
- 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 (23)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (22)
- Rolling stock fire performance (7)
- Rolling stock interiors (5)
- Rolling stock maintenance (36)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (22)
- Rolling stock testing (26)
- Train design - Components (76)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (43)
- Other - Rolling stock (28)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
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Results per page:
Research Project
T1387
End Date: 2026
Underway
Supporting industry to make targeted and proportionate mitigations in response to changes in safety risk as ETCS is introduced.
Read More
Research Project
T1391
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
How to enable parcels traffic using existing stations and passenger train dwell times (T1391)
Research Project
COF-UOH-70
End Date: 2026
Underway
A project to gain improved insights into the severity and frequency of low adhesion across different seasons. Read More
Research Project
T1341
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
Framework for assessment of technologies to deliver reliable braking in low adhesion (T1341)
Research Project
T1392
End Date: 2026
Underway
The AI Change Toolkit will provide the industry with a common method to ensure the safe and efficient launch of AI-powered applications. Read More
Research Project
T1354
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
Enabling unplanned bi-directional running on a line signalled for only one direction (T1354)
Research Project
T1366
End Date: 2026
Underway
Developing and testing an algorithm for managing electrical traction power system capacity.
Read More
Research Project
T1395
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
Building an industry-wide landscape of current and emerging AI-powered applications in rail (T1395)
Research Project
T1386
End Date: 2026
Underway
Supporting the frieght industry in making the best use of remote condition monitoring systems. Read More
Research Project
COF-ARF-02
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
Guidance to manage aerodynamics risk of freight services running above 75mph (COF-ARF-02)
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Complete (x)
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Health and wellbeing (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Customer services for passengers (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Station design (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
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Infrastructure asset management (x)
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Power supply (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Human reliability (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Track design and components (x)
Security management (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Accident investigation and learning (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)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (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)
Selection and training (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (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)
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)
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)
- 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 (2)
- 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 (10)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (6)
- Other - Rolling stock (8)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Knowledge Search
S337
End Date: 2019
Complete
Understanding the Hyperloop landscape, the sustainability of its business model based, and identifying uncertainties. Read More
Knowledge Search
S333
End Date: 2019
Complete
Understanding the implications of the continued employment of older drivers, in the context of the abolition of the statutory retirement age in 2011. Read More
Knowledge Search
S316
End Date: 2019
Complete
Registered
Sand Alternatives to Boost Adhesion (S316)
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
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
S130
End Date: 2019
Complete
Understanding how people make judgments and decisions, with a view to identifying opportunities to improve the quality of decisions. Read More
Knowledge Search
S335
End Date: 2018
Complete
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