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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Human reliability (x)
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Braking systems (x)
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Railways Interoperability (x)
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Rolling stock asset management (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
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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)
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Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
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Signalling - Train detection systems (x)
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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)
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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 (41)
- Customer services for passengers (97)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (3)
- Movement of trains (59)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (45)
- Operational Safety (30)
- Other - Operations (33)
- Revenue and ticketing (9)
- Security management (39)
- Stations management and passenger flow (31)
- Traffic supervision and management (43)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (128)
- Culture (56)
- Education and competence (8)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (36)
- Health and wellbeing (86)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (55)
- Human reliability (44)
- Job design (41)
- Selection and training (48)
- Other - People behaviour and health (20)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (41)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (6)
- Rolling stock asset management (29)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (28)
- Rolling stock fire performance (8)
- Rolling stock interiors (4)
- Rolling stock maintenance (44)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (24)
- Rolling stock testing (32)
- Train design - Components (92)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (50)
- Other - Rolling stock (37)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
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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
Registered
Hydrogen Policy and Standards (2022-STN-007)
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Risk models (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
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Whole system design and modelling (x)
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Track design and components (x)
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Selection and training (x)
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Rolling stock maintenance (x)
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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
-
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 (32)
- Customer services for passengers (68)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (2)
- Movement of trains (54)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (43)
- Operational Safety (25)
- Other - Operations (26)
- Revenue and ticketing (3)
- Security management (32)
- Stations management and passenger flow (29)
- 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 (49)
- Human reliability (32)
- Job design (32)
- Selection and training (42)
- Other - People behaviour and health (16)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (29)
- 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 (35)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (19)
- Rolling stock testing (25)
- 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
T039
End Date: 2002
Complete
Registered
Reducing assaults on railway staff (T039)
Research Project
T042
End Date: 2002
Complete
This project assessed the feasibility of using global positioning systems for train control. Deployment of this technology is a significantly cheaper… Read More
Research Project
T060e
End Date: 2002
Complete
There are nine wheel tread profiles that are accepted for use on Network Rail controlled infrastructure. This research aims to review the historic and… Read More
Research Project
T060c
End Date: 2002
Complete
Inspection techniques have been developed over a number of years to detect the smallest flaw in an axle and thus mitigate the risk of catastrophic… Read More
Research Project
T060b
End Date: 2002
Complete
This project developed earlier work led by Railtrack to develop a Whole Life Rail Model (WLRM), which encapsulates the industries understanding of… Read More
Research Project
T060a
End Date: 2002
Complete
This project investigated the feasibility of detecting rail flaws and other track faults by acoustically measuring the rolling noise generated by the… Read More
Research Project
T052d
End Date: 2002
Complete
This project addresses the recommendations made by Lord Cullen in his first report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry, relating to communication… Read More
Research Project
T049
End Date: 2002
Complete
Examining how a variety of transport maintenance organisations manage competence, highlighting areas for improvement that could improve railway… Read More
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Sustainable development (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Braking systems (x)
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Traffic supervision and management (x)
Future technologies (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Adhesion (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
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Value from data (x)
Selection and training (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
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Movement of trains (x)
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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)
Status
Objectives
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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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
Registered
Predictable and Optimised Braking: Linear induction motors for reliable braking (SC04-POB-12)
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
Registered
Powertrain: Digital displacement hydraulic transmission and brake energy recovery (SC04-POT-14)
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
Registered
Rail4All (SC06-ACC-03)
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
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Human reliability (x)
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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)
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 (6)
- 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:
Sort By:
Results per page:
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
Safety Reporting Systems (S361)
Knowledge Search
S365
End Date: 2022
Complete
Registered
Speaking Up About Safety (S365)
Knowledge Search
S358
End Date: 2021
Complete
Registered
Telematics for Road Vehicles (S358)
Knowledge Search
S367
End Date: 2021
Complete
A literature search into recent developments that might offer a way to protect GB train drivers in the event of a collision. Read More
Knowledge Search
S359
End Date: 2021
Complete
Registered
Solar Reflective Materials (S359)
Knowledge Search
S357
End Date: 2020
Complete
Evaluating whether mental health peer support schemes, such as mental health first aid, are effective in the railway industry. Read More