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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) Sustainability (x) Cost (x) Customer (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) Structures (x) Customer services for freight (x) Security management (x) Railways Interoperability (x) Other - Rolling stock (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Other - Control command and communication (x) Other - Infrastructure (x) Future technologies (x) Other - Operations (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Stations management and passenger flow (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) Accident investigation and learning (x) Movement authorities and signalling systems (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) FREIGHT (x) CLEAR (x) RESILIENT (x) FUTURE RISK (x) Clear date filter (x)

Topics

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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
Complete
Establishing bespoke pass and fail thresholds for assessing the severity of colour vision deficiency in mainline train drivers, with respect to their… Read More
Research Project
COF-HTT-01
End Date: 2024
Underway
Finding common approaches to wheel-rail interfaces for new tram-train services, aiming to cut costs and reduce uncertainty. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOS22-04
End Date: 2024
Underway
Test protocols for a standardised approach to the creation of leaf layers in the field and taking friction and chemistry measurements on the railhead. 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
S385
End Date: 2024
Complete
The potential of body armour to protect rail staff against violent incidents. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-78
End Date: 2024
Underway
Helping industry to detect wagon defects using Wheel Impact Load Detector data, by automating and reporting the data analytics. Read More
Research Project
COF-G24-02
End Date: 2024
Complete
Developing and evaluating enzyme treatments for breaking down the black layer of leaf film that causes low adhesion on the railhead. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-79
End Date: 2024
Complete
Understanding the effect of leaf type and condition, and environmental and operational factors, on the bonding strength of the black leaf film that… Read More
Sustainability Report
2022-STN-007
End Date: 2024
Complete
Furthering industry’s understanding of the risks of hydrogen-powered rolling stock, clarifying system definition, and analysing how current and future… Read More
Showing for
Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) In Preparation (x) Safety (x) Capacity (x) Sustainability (x) Cost (x) Customer (x) Other - Safety and risk (x) 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) 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) Adhesion (x) Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x) Culture (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) Structures (x) Human reliability (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) Social dynamics of transport (x) Operational Safety (x) Power supply (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) Accident investigation and learning (x) Safety data collection (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) FREIGHT (x) CLEAR (x) FUTURE RISK (x) RESILIENT (x) Clear date filter (x)

Topics

Date

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Research Project
T078
End Date: 2003
Complete
Derailments due to vehicle-track interaction problems remain a significant contributor to risk. This research analyses derailments over a 10-year… Read More
Research Project
T060d
End Date: 2003
Complete
Lubrication of the wheel rail interface is an activity commonly undertaken by rail administrations. This research reviewed international practice in… Read More
Research Project
T045
End Date: 2003
Complete
Identifying, analysing and understanding the reasons for selecting red zone working and the barriers to green zone working. Making this knowledge… Read More
Research Project
T052e
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project addresses the recommendations made by Lord Cullen in his first report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry, pertaining to windows as a… Read More
Research Project
T052a
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project addresses the recommendations made by Lord Cullen in his first report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry, pertaining to improvements in… Read More
Research Project
T052
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project considers the use of low location marking systems and 'snap wands' as a means of providing lighting in an emergency. It addresses… Read More
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
Showing for
Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) In Preparation (x) Customer (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)

Objectives

Date

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Innovation Project
I01-CLR-06
End Date: 2023
Complete
Enabling electronic Very Short-Term Planning (VSTP) requests, to improve efficiency and streamline communication. Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-POT-17
End Date: 2021
Underway
G‐volution’s technology permits existing engines to be evolved to dual‐fuel powertrains without needing significant rebuilding of the vehicle. Read More
Innovation Project
I01-CLR-05
End Date: 2021
Complete
Applying machine learning from historical events and the current state of the railway to generate and validate new Very Short-Term Planning (VSTP)… Read More
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
Real-time performance measurement tool enabling the visualisation of service performance and passenger impact at an unpreceded level. Read More
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
The configuration of ticket gatelines can result in unnecessary queueing and potential overcrowding. Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-POB-15
End Date: 2019
Complete
Cryogenic (dry ice) cleaning effectively removes oxide and leaf contamination from rail. This novel technology fires cryogenic pellets at the… Read More
Showing for
Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) In Preparation (x) Safety (x) Capacity (x) Sustainability (x) Cost (x) Customer (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) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Energy collection systems (x) Customer services for freight (x) Other - People behaviour and health (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
S125
End Date: 2013
Complete
Addressing the perceived gap in information on the influence of vertical energy at the wheel-rail interface. Read More
Knowledge Search
S135
End Date: 2013
Complete
What technical solutions exist to reduce platform edge gaps at stations?  Read More
Knowledge Search
S136
End Date: 2013
Complete
Can hydrophobic particles be mixed in with sand to improve adhesion at the wheel-rail interface? Read More
Knowledge Search
S152
End Date: 2013
Complete
Developments in battery technology have seen public transport manufacturers testing new vehicles that use battery for traction.  Read More
Knowledge Search
S160
End Date: 2013
Complete
Would changing the existing conditions on carriage of luggage could have benefits for on-train space? Read More
Knowledge Search
S162
End Date: 2013
Complete
What can GB rail learn about reducing noise from freight trains from the international rail community?. Read More
Knowledge Search
S165
End Date: 2013
Complete
What are the risks for trains operating through flood conditions?  Read More
Knowledge Search
S127
End Date: 2013
Complete
What difficulties does the road haulage industry face from unevenly loaded containers and what measures are in place to mitigate the risk of… Read More
Knowledge Search
S126
End Date: 2013
Complete
Understanding the Road Rail Vehicles (RRV) supplier landscape. Read More
Knowledge Search
S129
End Date: 2013
Complete
What is the impact of  using a mobile phone or other portable electronic device in different environments? Read More