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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

Date

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Research Project
T1262
End Date: 2024
Complete
Reviewing existing instructions and practices used during driver-controlled operation, and using this evidence base to identify safe and efficient… Read More
Research Project
T1272
End Date: 2024
Complete
Finding the right level of standardisation to cut costs, increase long term flexibility, and ensure safety. Read More
Research Project
COF-FTT
End Date: 2024
Underway
Identifying opportunities to improve successful deployment of innovations, while decreasing the time and efforts put into testing. Read More
Research Project
COF-G26-01
End Date: 2024
Complete
Exploring the automation of interface processes between Traffic Management and Crew & Stock Systems. Read More
Research Project
T1321
End Date: 2024
Complete
Developing good practice guidance to optimise the practice of securing freight wagons and avoid drag-brake and runaway events. Read More
Research Project
T1319
End Date: 2024
Complete
Research into how standards governing route knowledge will need to change as ETCS is rolled out across GB rail. Read More
Research Project
IMP-ADA
End Date: 2024
Underway
Developing and testing a proof-of-concept software solution to standardise and automate the attribution of reactionary delays. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOS22-03
End Date: 2024
Underway
Testing the effects of enhanced sand products to reduce the risk of wheel/rail isolation and increase flow rates to improve performance in low… Read More
Research Project
T1228
End Date: 2024
Underway
If the rail industry is to make a meaningful contribution to the net zero target, it will need to effectively manage carbon in its supply chains and… Read More
Research Project
T1327
End Date: 2024
Complete
Proposing refinements to the W10 and W12 freight gauges, to make them more useable and fit for purpose for operators and wagon builders. 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
T1314
End Date: 2025
Underway
A seat comfort specification to include seat parameters assessing comfort for trains that are in motion. Read More
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
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
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
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
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
SC12-TCX-07
End Date: 2018
Complete
We are addressing incidents at the Platform Train Interface (PTI), specifically tackling safety and security. The Interactive Platform Simulator is… Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCF-04
End Date: 2018
Complete
There is a lack of accurate information in relation to boarding and alighting. Staff and customers could access more information about services in… Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCF-08
End Date: 2017
Complete
Train Operating Companies commonly score less highly in the National Rail Passenger Survey (NRPS) for how disruption is handled and information is… Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCF-10
End Date: 2017
Complete
GPS data sources already exist on a large number of trains. However, this data may be in different formats, is not gathered in real-time and is not… Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCF-05
End Date: 2017
Complete
The rail industry faces a tough challenge in improving operational performance and punctuality (industry PPM MAA steadily declined from 91.6% in March… Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCF-06
End Date: 2017
Complete
Ticketing is still offered to customers in formats such as paper tickets and barcode. Customers are increasingly demanding greater convenience. Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCF-03
End Date: 2017
Complete
Customers are currently given limited information about how busy each carriage is on a train, making it difficult to know where to board. Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCF-07
End Date: 2017
Complete
WiFi is becoming more prominent on rail services, but there is a limited understanding of the capabilities it can enable and changes in behaviour we… Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-IPU-01
End Date: 2016
Complete
Battery powered EMU which ran in passenger service in 2015. Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-POB-04
End Date: 2016
Complete
Consistent Rail Head Conditioning System through the use of an intelligent rail head conditioning unit. In times of slip the conditioning unit will… 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
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
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
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
Knowledge Search
S382
End Date: 2024
Complete
A review of the hazards from lithium-ion batteries and setting out best practice for their use and storage. Read More
Knowledge Search
S366
End Date: 2023
Complete
The benefits and risks of trackside green infrastructure, principles of managing it, and the role of new technologies. Read More
Knowledge Search
S376
End Date: 2023
Complete
The psychological, physical, and productivity impacts of employees regularly working from home. Read More
Knowledge Search
S370
End Date: 2023
Complete
An overview of the current use of wayfinding tactiles on the railway, their benefits and disadvantages, and the role of new digital wayfinding… Read More
Knowledge Search
S363
End Date: 2023
Complete
Learning from other industries on applying artificial intelligence techniques to monitor and analyse voice communications. Read More