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 for specific research using Ask RSSB or our site search, or use the filters to narrow down options.
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Other - Safety and risk (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Risk models (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Customer services for passengers (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
Station design (x)
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Vehicle track dynamics (x)
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Movement of trains (x)
Human performance (x)
Adhesion (x)
Track design and components (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Selection and training (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Power supply (x)
Data and communications systems (x)
Structures (x)
Human reliability (x)
Job design (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Security management (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Braking systems (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Value from data (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Future technologies (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Rolling stock asset management (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Education and competence (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Rolling stock fire performance (x)
Electrical safety (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Rolling stock interiors (x)
Signalling - Train detection systems (x)
CCC system integration and life cycle management (x)
Keeping on-track staff safe (x)
CCC asset management (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Signalling - Train protection systems (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
Derailment (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)
FREIGHT (x)
DECARB (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 (43)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (18)
- 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 (94)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (4)
- Movement of trains (56)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (47)
- Operational Safety (39)
- Other - Operations (33)
- Revenue and ticketing (4)
- Security management (37)
- Stations management and passenger flow (30)
- Traffic supervision and management (38)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (125)
- Culture (56)
- Education and competence (13)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (40)
- Health and wellbeing (94)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (55)
- Human reliability (41)
- Job design (40)
- Selection and training (51)
- Trespass (1)
- Other - People behaviour and health (20)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (35)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (3)
- Rolling stock asset management (30)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (29)
- Rolling stock fire performance (9)
- Rolling stock interiors (5)
- Rolling stock maintenance (45)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (32)
- Rolling stock testing (30)
- Train design - Components (90)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (49)
- Other - Rolling stock (36)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
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Results per page:
Research Project
T1399
End Date: 2026
Underway
Identifying and mapping feasible PTI improvement options, to support targeted, cost-effective interventions and investment planning. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-RAATS
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
Red Aspect Approaches to Signals (RAATS)
Research Project
COF-ECO-21
End Date: 2026
Underway
Assessing the use of mobile network data to understand more about passengers and their whole journeys. Read More
Research Project
COF-HTT-02
End Date: 2026
Underway
Development of a Tram-Train Best Practice Guide, addressing relevant technical areas, economics, and policy. Read More
Research Project
T1371
End Date: 2026
Complete
Assessing the evidence to establish how often train drivers should undergo medical assessment. Read More
Research Project
COF-ECO-18
End Date: 2026
Underway
Improving the way that we develop business cases for new stations including wider benefits such as housing and development. Read More
Research Project
T1404
End Date: 2026
Complete
Registered
Investigating and proposing improvements for rolling stock heat insulation provision (T1404)
Research Project
T1406
End Date: 2026
Underway
Addressing a challenge that emerged following essential modifications to locomotives, which resulted in more restrictive Route Availability… Read More
Research Project
COF-UOS22-05
End Date: 2026
Underway
Testing the effects of recycled glass particles to determine if they could be used as an alternative to rail sand in low adhesion conditions. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-87
End Date: 2026
Underway
Developing a tool that uses train signalling data to automatically identify overspeed events and enable more proactive management of risks. Read More
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Applied filters:
Complete (x)
Underway (x)
Capacity (x)
Safety (x)
Cost (x)
Customer (x)
Sustainability (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Risk models (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)
Movement of trains (x)
Human performance (x)
Station design (x)
Adhesion (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Selection and training (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Track design and components (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Culture (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Data and communications systems (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Structures (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Job design (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Power supply (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Human reliability (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Braking systems (x)
Security management (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Value from data (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Rolling stock asset management (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)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Education and competence (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Rail Standardisation (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)
Keeping on-track staff safe (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Derailment (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)
FREIGHT (x)
DECARB (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 (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 (44)
- Customer services for passengers (76)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (3)
- Movement of trains (55)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (45)
- Operational Safety (32)
- Other - Operations (26)
- Revenue and ticketing (2)
- Security management (29)
- Stations management and passenger flow (27)
- Traffic supervision and management (32)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (99)
- Culture (44)
- Education and competence (11)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (33)
- Health and wellbeing (68)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (51)
- Human reliability (32)
- Job design (34)
- Selection and training (47)
- 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 (24)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (23)
- Rolling stock fire performance (7)
- Rolling stock interiors (5)
- Rolling stock maintenance (36)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (25)
- Rolling stock testing (26)
- Train design - Components (79)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (43)
- Other - Rolling stock (28)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Research Project
COF-UOS-07
End Date: 2029
Underway
Registered
Assessing Performance of Low Adhesion Mitigations and Defining Application Protocol (COF-UOS-07)
Research Project
COF-RCF-01
End Date: 2029
Underway
A PhD project using modelling to establish the relationship between the microstructure or rail steel and crack initiation. Read More
Research Project
T1385
End Date: 2028
Underway
Developing bespoke colour vision thresholds for safety critical staff on the mainline railway. Read More
Research Project
T1379
End Date: 2028
Underway
Validating current standardised and non-standardised train driver selection assessments to improve fairness and reliability,
and align these to the… Read More
Research Project
T1408
End Date: 2027
Underway
Helping operators to introduce structured hazard perception training, to improve safety and driver confidence. Read More
Research Project
T1421
End Date: 2027
Underway
More consistent braking within freight trains will help to reduce wheel flats and associated derailment risks. Read More
Research Project
T1374
End Date: 2027
Underway
This research will examine how extreme weather is affecting railway safety risk and make those effects more visible in the Precursor Indicator Model,… Read More
Research Project
T1418
End Date: 2027
Underway
A strategy to remove higher-risk and higher-cost 3rd rail sections using traction batteries retrofitted to existing EMUs.
Read More
Research Project
T1402
End Date: 2027
Underway
Assessing the regulatory impact on PFAS use in railway applications and indentifying potential alternatives. Read More
Research Project
T1432
End Date: 2027
Underway
Developing an evidence-based understanding of how children and young people perceive and respond to risk at
level crossings, and identifying how to… Read More
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Applied filters:
Complete (x)
Underway (x)
Safety (x)
Sustainability (x)
Customer (x)
Capacity (x)
Cost (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Customer services for passengers (x)
Station design (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Future technologies (x)
Culture (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
Power supply (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Human reliability (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Track design and components (x)
Security management (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (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)
Selection and training (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)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (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)
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)
Keeping on-track staff safe (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)
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)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (1)
- 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 (3)
- 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 (11)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (6)
- Other - Rolling stock (8)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Knowledge Search
S382
End Date: 2024
Complete
Registered
Lithium-ion battery safety (S382)
Knowledge Search
S366
End Date: 2023
Complete
Registered
Green infrastructure and the railways (S366)
Knowledge Search
S376
End Date: 2023
Complete
Registered
Remote and hybrid working (S376)
Knowledge Search
S370
End Date: 2023
Complete
Registered
Wayfinding tactiles (S370)
Knowledge Search
S363
End Date: 2023
Complete
Registered
AI in safety-critical communications (S363)
Knowledge Search
S373
End Date: 2023
Complete
Information on crushable desk and knee bolsters to protect drivers in accidents. Read More
Knowledge Search
S372
End Date: 2023
Complete
Reducing potential injuries from window breakages during accidents. Read More
Knowledge Search
S364
End Date: 2023
Complete
Quantifying the value of depots within the network, to improve investment decision-making. Read More
Knowledge Search
S371
End Date: 2022
Complete
Registered
Antimicrobial coatings (S371)
Knowledge Search
S361
End Date: 2022
Complete
Registered