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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) 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

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Knowledge Search
S379
End Date: 2024
Complete
A look at fitness to work criteria across a range of UK non-rail industries and in the Australian and Canadian rail industries. Read More
Research Project
T1278
End Date: 2024
Underway
The first industry-wide survey to understand musculoskeletal disorders in front-line staff. Read More
Research Project
T1301
End Date: 2024
Underway
A review of current sectional running times against freight train capabilities to determine whether capacity benefits can be gained. Read More
Research Project
T1266
End Date: 2024
Complete
Understanding the impacts and cost to industry of using default Lambda braking values for freight trains, compared to values that accurately reflect… Read More
Sustainability Report
2022-SUS-034
End Date: 2024
Complete
This project supports the industry’s A Railway for Nature and Protect and Conserve water flagship goals. It provides clear metrics and indicators to… Read More
Research Project
T1329
End Date: 2024
Complete
Do regulations on window box clearance - the gaps between train windows and surrounding structures - match current risks? Read More
Knowledge Search
S375
End Date: 2024
Complete
A survey of available sensor technologies, what benefits they could offer the rail industry, and how they should be deployed. Read More
Knowledge Search
S378
End Date: 2024
Complete
A review of the literature on shift work and its impact on fatigue, accidents and broader aspects of health. Read More
Research Project
T1259
End Date: 2024
Complete
Research to develop and pilot a performance measurement system that will collect agreed health indicators and trial reporting, benchmarking, and… Read More
Research Project
COF-ECO-15
End Date: 2024
Underway
Looking at the impact of opening new through stations on demand on exisiting lines, to improve demand forecasting. 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

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Research Project
T1316
End Date: 2025
Underway
Research in response to Recommendation 12 of the RAIB Rail Accident Report into the derailment of a passenger train at Carmont, Aberdeenshire on 12… Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-82
End Date: 2025
Underway
Updating wheel tread damange guidance for operators and maintainers, to reflect current technology and working practices. Read More
Research Project
T1336
End Date: 2025
Underway
Developing guidance and training materials to make incident learning reviews more consistent and effective across the industry. Read More
Research Project
T1326
End Date: 2025
Underway
Understanding how the introduction of assisted braking and door operation changes the operational profile of the railway. Read More
Research Project
T1333
End Date: 2025
Underway
A framework to help operators safely reduce the frequency of running brake tests. Read More
Research Project
T1343
End Date: 2025
Underway
A set of generic railway sections that can be used to represent the railway network and used to estimate the network-wide impact of changes. Read More
Research Project
T1325
End Date: 2025
Underway
A set of tools and guidance to align carbon data and accounting across the rail industry and its supply chain. Read More
Research Project
T1332
End Date: 2025
Underway
How mobile phones can help drivers in their tasks, and the requirements these devices will need to meet. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-80
End Date: 2025
Underway
Understanding the combined influence of wheel slide protection system settings and contact conditions on the initiation of rail squat defects. Read More
Research Project
T344
End Date: 2025
Underway
An updated and enhanced model to help operators quantify knock-on risk. 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
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:
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Knowledge Search
S352
End Date: 2020
Complete
Options for assessing the degree of colour vision deficiency in rail workers. Read More
Knowledge Search
S356
End Date: 2020
Complete
Winter weather, particularly snow and ice, can provide challenging conditions for drivers. Read More
Knowledge Search
S348
End Date: 2020
Complete
Examining the laws and practices related to providing first aid to rail passengers in the national rail sector. Read More
Knowledge Search
S309
End Date: 2020
Complete
An overview of geotechnical issues related to soil management which impact the GB rail industry.  Read More
Knowledge Search
S351
End Date: 2020
Complete
How long pregnant women are able to continue working in safety-critical roles (especially with regard to train drivers)? Read More
Knowledge Search
S350
End Date: 2020
Complete
Knowledge Search
S346
End Date: 2019
Complete
Evaluation of further safeguards to prevent passengers from being caught by doors. 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
S342
End Date: 2019
Complete
Are alternative models needed to understand bridge load dynamics when dealing with high speed rail traveling over slab track, as opposed to… Read More
Knowledge Search
S343
End Date: 2019
Complete
Understanding how public transport use by People with Disabilities (PwD)  - who are proportionally low users of public transport - could be improved. Read More