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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) Cost (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) Health and wellbeing (x) Train design - Components (x) Infrastructure asset management (x) Commercial dynamics of transport (x) Station design (x) Other - Policy and decision making (x) Vehicle track dynamics (x) Movement of trains (x) Culture (x) Adhesion (x) Human performance (x) Track design and components (x) Adaptation to climate change (x) Whole system design and modelling (x) Selection and training (x) Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x) Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x) Rolling stock maintenance (x) Customer services for freight (x) Data and communications systems (x) Human reliability (x) Structures (x) Power supply (x) Job design (x) Security management (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Other - Energy and electrification (x) Railways Interoperability (x) Operational Safety (x) Other - Rolling stock (x) Braking systems (x) Other - Control command and communication (x) Other - Operations (x) Other - Infrastructure (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Rolling stock passenger comfort (x) Future technologies (x) Value from data (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Rolling stock asset management (x) Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x) Other - People behaviour and health (x) Overhead line equipment (x) Movement authorities and signalling systems (x) Energy collection systems (x) Aerodynamics (x) Accident investigation and learning (x) Control and display systems (x) Safety data analysis (x) Safety data collection (x) Other - Interfaces (x) Rail Standardisation (x) Education and competence (x) Safety decision support (x) Rolling stock fire performance (x) Electrical safety (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (x) Rolling stock interiors (x) Signalling - Train detection systems (x) CCC system integration and life cycle management (x) CCC asset management (x) Revenue and ticketing (x) Signalling - Train protection systems (x) On board power supplies and monitoring (x) Keeping on-track staff safe (x) Derailment (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) FREIGHT (x) DECARB (x) CLEAR (x) Enabling AI in Rail (x) FUTURE RISK (x) RESILIENT (x) Clear date filter (x)

Objectives

Topics

Date

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Research Project
T1390
End Date: 2026
Underway
Trialling and gaining approval for a simplified, low-cost signalling solution, to encourage growth in rail freight. Read More
Research Project
T1394
End Date: 2026
Underway
This project will develop a set of standardised platform interface arrangements for tram-train operations in Great Britain. It will support future… Read More
Research Project
T1387
End Date: 2026
Underway
Supporting industry to make targeted and proportionate mitigations in response to changes in safety risk as ETCS is introduced. Read More
Research Project
T1376
End Date: 2026
Underway
Helping industry prepare for FRMCS and exploit the new system capabilities. Read More
Research Project
T1391
End Date: 2026
Underway
Unlocking the potential for lightweight parcel logistics via the GB rail network, using existing passenger infrastructure for city-to-city deliveries. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-70
End Date: 2026
Underway
A project to gain improved insights into the severity and frequency of low adhesion across different seasons. Read More
Research Project
T1398
End Date: 2026
Underway
Developing a national classification of platform–train interface conditions, combining geometry and human factors, to define accessible boarding… Read More
Research Project
T1341
End Date: 2026
Underway
A framework of performance targets and criteria against which low adhesion mitigations can be assessed. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-82
End Date: 2026
Underway
Updating wheel tread damage and management guidance for operators and maintainers, to reflect current technology and working practices. Read More
Knowledge Search
S391
End Date: 2026
Complete
A practical up-to-date overview of wheel/rail interface friction management. Read More
Showing for
Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) Cost (x) Other - Safety and risk (x) Risk models (x) Wheel-rail interface (x) Attitudes and behaviour (x) Sustainable development (x) Train design - Components (x) Customer services for passengers (x) Infrastructure asset management (x) Health and wellbeing (x) Commercial dynamics of transport (x) Vehicle track dynamics (x) Movement of trains (x) Station design (x) Human performance (x) Adhesion (x) Other - Policy and decision making (x) Whole system design and modelling (x) Selection and training (x) Track design and components (x) Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x) Culture (x) Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x) Data and communications systems (x) Customer services for freight (x) Rolling stock maintenance (x) Adaptation to climate change (x) Structures (x) Other - Control command and communication (x) Job design (x) Other - Energy and electrification (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Security management (x) Human reliability (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Power supply (x) Braking systems (x) Operational Safety (x) Railways Interoperability (x) Other - Rolling stock (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Other - Operations (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Value from data (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Rolling stock passenger comfort (x) Rolling stock asset management (x) Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x) Other - Infrastructure (x) Future technologies (x) Movement authorities and signalling systems (x) Control and display systems (x) Other - People behaviour and health (x) Overhead line equipment (x) Aerodynamics (x) Energy collection systems (x) Safety data analysis (x) Safety data collection (x) Other - Interfaces (x) Safety decision support (x) Accident investigation and learning (x) Rail Standardisation (x) Education and competence (x) Rolling stock fire performance (x) Rolling stock interiors (x) Signalling - Train detection systems (x) CCC system integration and life cycle management (x) Electrical safety (x) CCC asset management (x) Signalling - Train protection systems (x) On board power supplies and monitoring (x) Keeping on-track staff safe (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (x) Derailment (x) Revenue and ticketing (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) FREIGHT (x) DECARB (x) CLEAR (x) Enabling AI in Rail (x) FUTURE RISK (x) RESILIENT (x) Clear date filter (x)

Objectives

Topics

Date

From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:

Research Project
T139
End Date: 2003
Complete
Developing a course to assist in the formulation and maintenance of risk assessments for railway safety cases. Read More
Research Project
T080
End Date: 2003
Complete
This research proposes a method by which the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) can effectively manage the risk of low adhesion without… Read More
Research Project
T182
End Date: 2003
Complete
Developing a robust process for identifying the necessary attributes and competencies for front line managers and supervisors in safety critical… Read More
Research Project
T180
End Date: 2003
Complete
Developing a methodology to identify whether procedures for safe working are fit for purpose with respect to the balance between track worker safety… Read More
Research Project
T174
End Date: 2003
Complete
This research was to understand the dynamic effects of freight vehicles passing over bridges, particularly at speeds higher than currently permitted. Read More
Research Project
T175
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project assessed existing methods of protecting traction power supply sections, to identify improvements to the speed and selectivity of fault… Read More
Research Project
T155
End Date: 2003
Complete
Investigating the feasibility of developing a model to assess the implications, such as safety performance and financial cost, of changes to a safety… Read More
Research Project
T227
End Date: 2003
Complete
Reviewing the role of Bayesian Belief Networks and Goal Structured Notation in developing safety cases within the rail industry to improve the quality… Read More
Research Project
T226
End Date: 2003
Complete
Investigating the strengths and weaknesses of neural networks and suggesting possible applications within the rail industry. Read More
Research Project
T207
End Date: 2003
Complete
By developing a prototype, this research aims to assess the feasibility of developing a model that would enable Network Rail to manage the risk of… Read More
Showing for
Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) Cost (x) Health and wellbeing (x) Attitudes and behaviour (x) Other - Safety and risk (x) Customer services for passengers (x) Station design (x) Other - Policy and decision making (x) Sustainable development (x) Other - Infrastructure (x) Adaptation to climate change (x) Future technologies (x) Culture (x) Train design - Components (x) Infrastructure asset management (x) Power supply (x) Wheel-rail interface (x) Rolling stock maintenance (x) Human reliability (x) Commercial dynamics of transport (x) Railways Interoperability (x) Track design and components (x) Security management (x) Social dynamics of transport (x) Other - Rolling stock (x) Other - Operations (x) Rolling stock passenger comfort (x) Accident investigation and learning (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (x) Job design (x) Traffic supervision and management (x) Braking systems (x) Rolling stock asset management (x) Structures (x) Operational Safety (x) Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x) Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x) Value from data (x) Vehicle track dynamics (x) Risk models (x) Adhesion (x) Selection and training (x) Rolling stock testing (x) Energy collection systems (x) Human performance (x) Customer services for freight (x) Other - People behaviour and health (x) Smart grids and energy harvesting (x) Other - Energy and electrification (x) Stations management and passenger flow (x) Overhead line equipment (x) Whole system design and modelling (x) Education and competence (x) Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x) Revenue and ticketing (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) Enabling AI in Rail (x) FREIGHT (x) Clear date filter (x)

Topics

Programme

Date

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Knowledge Search
S210
End Date: 2014
Complete
Novel thinking around how rail transport can be combined with cycling. Read More
Knowledge Search
S213
End Date: 2014
Complete
Exploring the potential of internet auctioning of unused transport capacity. Read More
Knowledge Search
S175
End Date: 2014
Complete
Why has there been so little research into innovation and innovative behaviour in the rail industry, either in the UK or elsewhere? Read More
Knowledge Search
S188
End Date: 2014
Complete
The rail industry has been concerned for some time at the number of signals passed at danger (SPADs) by empty coaching stock trains (ECS) and light… Read More
Knowledge Search
S193
End Date: 2014
Complete
What innovation models which have been designed, applied or planned for enhancing the delivery of innovation? Read More
Knowledge Search
S195
End Date: 2014
Complete
What new products and technologies are available for electrical and mechanical ways of improving traction efficiency in railways?  Read More
Knowledge Search
S197
End Date: 2014
Complete
Smart glass is widely believed to be the next major development in personal computing: what impact could it have on the rail industry? Read More
Knowledge Search
S202
End Date: 2014
Complete
What is the level of aerodynamic noise produced by pantographs on high speed trains?  Read More
Knowledge Search
S211
End Date: 2014
Complete
What is the scope for developing bus-rail hybrid journeys, and how might these two modes of transport can be complementary or substitutive? Read More
Knowledge Search
S183
End Date: 2014
Complete
Big data analytics, data mining, and the tools, products and techniques used to identify unexpected changes and trends in large datasets.  Read More