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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) Braking systems (x) Job design (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) Value from data (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Operational Safety (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) Revenue and ticketing (x) Rolling stock fire performance (x) Education and competence (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)

Topics

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Research Project
T1323
End Date: 2025
Underway
Understanding how, why, and where reportable information is being lost or not acted upon, and finding ways to help companies take action at the… Read More
Research Project
T1367
End Date: 2025
Underway
Information to guide industry requirements on fire protection and rail vehicle structures for battery-powered trains. Read More
Research Project
T1351
End Date: 2025
Underway
Developing a better understanding of how freight trains perform in low adhesion, to support a more informed and targeted approach to mitigations. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOS-05
End Date: 2025
Complete
A PhD studentship focused on estimating adhesion levels using train mounted equipment, which could more evidence-based operational decisions. Read More
Research Project
T1364
End Date: 2025
Underway
Helping the the rail industry develop and deploy AI solutions, through a streamlined approach to navigating standards. Read More
Research Project
T1342
End Date: 2025
Underway
Modelling the potential consequences of a train collisions and derailments for different train types, speeds, lengths, and loading. Read More
Research Project
T1358
End Date: 2025
Underway
Real-word testing of rail diesel emisisons, including comparison with emissions from hydrotreated vegetable oils and consideration of the role of… Read More
Research Project
T1335
End Date: 2025
Underway
Finding ways to separate vital information from routine enquiries, so that controllers can make informed decisions to end disruption. Read More
Research Project
T1350
End Date: 2025
Underway
A fundamental study into the conditions that lead to wheel flats on freight vehicles, and potential mitigations. Read More
Research Project
T1369
End Date: 2025
Underway
Investigating passenger heating/cooling systems to improve efficiency and identify options for battery-powered trains. 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) 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) Other - Operations (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Operational Safety (x) Power supply (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) Rolling stock fire performance (x) Education and competence (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) Derailment (x) Keeping on-track staff safe (x) Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x) Gauging (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (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
T060n
End Date: 2002
Complete
The criteria against which wheelsets are managed have been established over very many years, some going back 50 years. This research conducts a review… Read More
Research Project
T060k
End Date: 2002
Complete
Automatic vehicle identification (AVI) systems could enhance the value of condition monitoring equipment now employed extensively on the GB railway.… Read More
Research Project
T091
End Date: 2002
Complete
This project identified the train parameters required to enable the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) to understand the physical… Read More
Research Project
T060h
End Date: 2002
Complete
Safe and cost-effective operation of the railway system requires that vehicles do not impart excessive vertical forces to the track. This research… Read More
Research Project
T060f
End Date: 2002
Complete
This project reviewed the recommendations from previous ARUP/Transport Technology Center Inc research regarding hollow wear limits and false flange… Read More
Research Project
T040
End Date: 2002
Complete
Assessing the attitudes of the British Transport Police and staff in key industry sectors to railway crime and its solutions. Comparing these… Read More
Research Project
T039
End Date: 2002
Complete
Understanding the size of the growing problem of assaults on railway staff, and identifying measures to counteract it. Read More
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
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
S172
End Date: 2013
Complete
Reducing aerodynamic drag is an important consideration for the design of trains. Read More
Knowledge Search
S168
End Date: 2013
Complete
Understanding how other industries learn from accidents could provide GB rail with valuable insights.  Read More
Knowledge Search
S167
End Date: 2013
Complete
Understanding how increased passenger numbers effect security and crime on the network would help the industry better allocate resources and better… Read More
Knowledge Search
S125
End Date: 2013
Complete
Addressing the perceived gap in information on the influence of vertical energy at the wheel-rail interface. Read More
Knowledge Search
S135
End Date: 2013
Complete
What technical solutions exist to reduce platform edge gaps at stations?  Read More
Knowledge Search
S136
End Date: 2013
Complete
Can hydrophobic particles be mixed in with sand to improve adhesion at the wheel-rail interface? Read More
Knowledge Search
S152
End Date: 2013
Complete
Developments in battery technology have seen public transport manufacturers testing new vehicles that use battery for traction.  Read More
Knowledge Search
S160
End Date: 2013
Complete
Would changing the existing conditions on carriage of luggage could have benefits for on-train space? Read More
Knowledge Search
S162
End Date: 2013
Complete
What can GB rail learn about reducing noise from freight trains from the international rail community?. Read More
Knowledge Search
S165
End Date: 2013
Complete
What are the risks for trains operating through flood conditions?  Read More