Menu

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) 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) Culture (x) Human performance (x) Adhesion (x) Track design and components (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) Data and communications systems (x) Rolling stock maintenance (x) Human reliability (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Power supply (x) Job design (x) Other - Energy and electrification (x) Braking systems (x) Customer services for freight (x) Structures (x) Security management (x) Other - Rolling stock (x) Railways Interoperability (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Other - Control command and communication (x) Other - Infrastructure (x) Other - Operations (x) Future technologies (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Operational Safety (x) Value from data (x) Rolling stock asset management (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 data collection (x) Safety decision support (x) Revenue and ticketing (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

Date

From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:

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
This research examined how well commercially available enzymes degrade leaf film in track conditions, including lower temperatures. It also looked at… Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-79
End Date: 2024
Complete
Understanding how the characteristics of leaf layers, wetting rates and wheel load affect the bonding strength, durability and adhesion levels of the… 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) Cost (x) Sustainability (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) Station design (x) Human performance (x) Other - Policy and decision making (x) Whole system design and modelling (x) Adhesion (x) Track design and components (x) Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x) Culture (x) Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x) Selection and training (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) Job design (x) Customer services for freight (x) Security management (x) Human reliability (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Braking systems (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Railways Interoperability (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) Other - Infrastructure (x) Value from data (x) Rolling stock passenger comfort (x) Control and display systems (x) Other - People behaviour and health (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) Accident investigation and learning (x) Rail Standardisation (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) Electrical safety (x) Signalling - Train protection systems (x) Revenue and ticketing (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

From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:

Research Project
COF-RCF-01
End Date: 2028
Underway
A PhD project using modelling to establish the relationship between the microstructure or rail steel and crack initiation.  Read More
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
T1341
End Date: 2026
Underway
A framework of performance targets and criteria against which low adhesion mitigations can be assessed. Read More
Research Project
COF-MLD-03
End Date: 2025
Underway
A PhD studentship to explore how digital systems for late technology adopting passengers can be improved or adapted, in order to overcome barriers. Read More
Research Project
T1356
End Date: 2025
Underway
Identifying best practice in switching multi-mode trains from one energy source to another. Read More
Research Project
COF-G25-01
End Date: 2025
Underway
Testing of the enhanced trailing arm bush prototype on a dynamic test rig and building the case for an in-service trial. Read More
Research Project
T1340
End Date: 2025
Underway
An updated understanding of the cost impacts of low adhesion, to inform investment decisions for specific routes and fleets. Read More
Research Project
T1331
End Date: 2025
Underway
Investigating the background and rationale for current traction power parameters, and establishing whether changing these parameters could improve… 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

From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:

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
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
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
Showing for
Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) In Preparation (x) Capacity (x) Safety (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

From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:

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