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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) Health and wellbeing (x) Infrastructure asset management (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) Adhesion (x) Culture (x) Human performance (x) Track design and components (x) Whole system design and modelling (x) Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x) Selection and training (x) Data and communications systems (x) Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Rolling stock maintenance (x) Customer services for freight (x) Human reliability (x) Power supply (x) Job design (x) Braking systems (x) Other - Energy and electrification (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) Future technologies (x) Other - Operations (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Operational Safety (x) Value from data (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Rolling stock asset management (x) Rolling stock passenger comfort (x) Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x) Energy collection systems (x) Other - People behaviour and health (x) Overhead line equipment (x) Aerodynamics (x) Movement authorities and signalling systems (x) Control and display systems (x) Accident investigation and learning (x) Other - Interfaces (x) Safety data analysis (x) Safety data collection (x) Rail Standardisation (x) Safety decision support (x) Education and competence (x) Revenue and ticketing (x) Rolling stock fire performance (x) On board power supplies and monitoring (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (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) CCC system integration and life cycle management (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) DECARB (x) FREIGHT (x) CLEAR (x) RESILIENT (x) FUTURE RISK (x) Clear date filter (x)

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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
T1345
End Date: 2025
Underway
A way to calculate the economic benefits of avoiding accidents through network changes, for more comprehensive risk modelling. 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
Research Project
T1352
End Date: 2025
Underway
Providing the freight industry with an understanding of longitudinal compressive forces and the associated derailment risk. Read More
Research Project
T1348
End Date: 2025
Underway
The feasibility and benefits of setting differentail speed limites for freight trains, depending on actual braking capability. Read More
Research Project
T1318
End Date: 2025
Underway
Developing a validated model capable of predicting the growth of rolling contact damage on GB railways. Read More
Research Project
T1337
End Date: 2025
Underway
A review of how ETCS capabilities change the driving task, including which risks are mitigated by the system and which still need to be managed by the… Read More
Research Project
T1371
End Date: 2025
Underway
Assessing the evidence to establish how often train drivers should undergo medical assessment. Read More
Research Project
T1363
End Date: 2025
Underway
Helping the the rail industry to assure AI solutions, through a framework of considerations to streamline decision-making. Read More
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Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) In Preparation (x) Safety (x) Capacity (x) Cost (x) Sustainability (x) Customer (x) Other - Safety and risk (x) Wheel-rail interface (x) Risk models (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) Vehicle track dynamics (x) Commercial dynamics of transport (x) Movement of trains (x) Station design (x) Other - Policy and decision making (x) Human performance (x) Adhesion (x) Whole system design and modelling (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) Customer services for freight (x) Other - Control command and communication (x) Structures (x) Job design (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Security management (x) Human reliability (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Braking systems (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Railways Interoperability (x) Other - Rolling stock (x) Operational Safety (x) Power supply (x) Other - Operations (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Rolling stock asset management (x) Value from data (x) Rolling stock passenger comfort (x) Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x) Other - Infrastructure (x) Future technologies (x) Control and display systems (x) Other - People behaviour and health (x) Aerodynamics (x) Movement authorities and signalling systems (x) Energy collection systems (x) Overhead line equipment (x) Safety data analysis (x) Other - Interfaces (x) Safety decision support (x) Safety data collection (x) Accident investigation and learning (x) Rail Standardisation (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) On board power supplies and monitoring (x) Revenue and ticketing (x) CCC system integration and life cycle management (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (x) Derailment (x) Keeping on-track staff safe (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) DECARB (x) FREIGHT (x) CLEAR (x) FUTURE RISK (x) RESILIENT (x) Clear date filter (x)

Topics

Date

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Research Project
T124
End Date: 2003
Complete
This research reviewed the provision of buffer override protection on tank wagons containing dangerous goods, in particular improvements to design… Read More
Research Project
T255
End Date: 2003
Complete
Investigating the seasonal peak in SPADs experienced in May during recent years, and searching for correlations with causal factors. Read More
Research Project
T248
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project conducted a 'desk top' review of past and current research into the effects of train slipstreams on platforms and how other railway… Read More
Research Project
T064a
End Date: 2003
Complete
Development of a curriculum-led framework for incorporating rail safety messages enabling web based rail safety resources to be accredited by the… Read More
Research Project
T062d
End Date: 2003
Complete
Reviewing USA and other international experience arising from zero-tolerance and other anti-vandalism initiatives. Evaluating the transferability to… Read More
Research Project
T062c
End Date: 2003
Complete
Investigating the reasons for low levels of participation in Restorative Justice schemes for young offenders who trespass and/or vandalise the… Read More
Research Project
T061d
End Date: 2003
Complete
Assessing the type, availability, potential railway applications and benefits of new CCTV technology. Maximising benefits from existing and future… Read More
Research Project
T061c
End Date: 2003
Complete
Identification of three advanced CCTV systems to assess their suitability for use in the rail environment: Intelligent Station Surveillance; Digital… Read More
Research Project
T061a
End Date: 2003
Complete
Summarising the research work undertaken into the use of CCTV on the railway. This comprises separate projects on existing CCTV systems, new and… Read More
Research Project
T092
End Date: 2003
Complete
This work identified appropriate systems to ensure that satisfactory levels of integrity are achieved for data used for the European Rail Traffic… 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) Trespass (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
I01-CLR-06
End Date: 2023
Complete
Enabling electronic Very Short-Term Planning (VSTP) requests, to improve efficiency and streamline communication. Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-POT-17
End Date: 2021
Underway
G‐volution’s technology permits existing engines to be evolved to dual‐fuel powertrains without needing significant rebuilding of the vehicle. Read More
Innovation Project
I01-CLR-05
End Date: 2021
Complete
Applying machine learning from historical events and the current state of the railway to generate and validate new Very Short-Term Planning (VSTP)… Read More
Innovation Project
I01-CLR-04
End Date: 2021
Complete
Identification of unused train paths for use by freight services as part of the Very Short-Term Planning (VSTP) system. Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-VLR-01
End Date: 2021
Underway
Construction of a hybrid powered very light rail demonstrator vehicle. Read More
Innovation Project
I12-TCV-02
End Date: 2020
Complete
Real-time performance measurement tool enabling the visualisation of service performance and passenger impact at an unpreceded level. Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-POB-13
End Date: 2020
Complete
The project will create an advanced braking control system which optimises the braking performance of the existing friction and dynamic braking. It… Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCF-14
End Date: 2019
Complete
There are opportunities to improve the customer experience through improved tracking of passenger numbers. Read More
Innovation Project
SC12-TCX-04
End Date: 2019
Complete
The configuration of ticket gatelines can result in unnecessary queueing and potential overcrowding. Read More
Innovation Project
SC04-POB-15
End Date: 2019
Complete
Cryogenic (dry ice) cleaning effectively removes oxide and leaf contamination from rail. This novel technology fires cryogenic pellets at the… 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) Health and wellbeing (x) Other - Safety and risk (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) Train design - Components (x) Culture (x) Power supply (x) Infrastructure asset management (x) Rolling stock maintenance (x) Human reliability (x) Commercial dynamics of transport (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) Rolling stock passenger comfort (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) Risk models (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Energy collection systems (x) Human performance (x) Customer services for freight (x) Other - People behaviour and health (x) Adhesion (x) Operational Safety (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (x) Overhead line equipment (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) 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) FREIGHT (x) Clear date filter (x)

Topics

Programme

Date

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Knowledge Search
S387
End Date: 2025
Complete
Looking at the levels of CO2 in passenger carriages, and whether current standards ensure passenger health and comfort. Read More
Knowledge Search
S381
End Date: 2025
Complete
An overview of the factors that affect the build-up of leaf fall contamination, the relationship between different types of contamination, and the… Read More
Knowledge Search
S388
End Date: 2025
Complete
Looking for scientific evidence that people get more tired after meals, and what might mititgate any risks. 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
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