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.
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Risk models (x)
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Customer services for passengers (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
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Adaptation to climate change (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
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Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
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Railways Interoperability (x)
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Other - Rolling stock (x)
Braking systems (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Future technologies (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (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)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Overhead line equipment (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)
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)
FREIGHT (x)
DECARB (x)
CLEAR (x)
Enabling AI in Rail (x)
FUTURE RISK (x)
RESILIENT (x)
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Status
Topics
-
Control Command and Communication
- CCC asset management (4)
- CCC system integration and life cycle management (5)
- Control and display systems (16)
- Data and communications systems (43)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (18)
- Other - Control command and communication (35)
- Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (2)
- Signalling - Train detection systems (5)
- Signalling - Train protection systems (4)
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
-
Operations
- Customer services for freight (44)
- Customer services for passengers (91)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (2)
- Movement of trains (56)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (46)
- Operational Safety (36)
- Other - Operations (33)
- Revenue and ticketing (4)
- Security management (40)
- Stations management and passenger flow (30)
- Traffic supervision and management (38)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (126)
- Culture (55)
- Education and competence (10)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (37)
- Health and wellbeing (91)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (53)
- Human reliability (41)
- Job design (40)
- Selection and training (49)
- Trespass (1)
- Other - People behaviour and health (20)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (35)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (3)
- Rolling stock asset management (29)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (28)
- Rolling stock fire performance (9)
- Rolling stock interiors (5)
- Rolling stock maintenance (45)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (31)
- Rolling stock testing (30)
- Train design - Components (88)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (49)
- Other - Rolling stock (36)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
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Results per page:
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
Registered
Optimising the platform–train interface: prioritised interventions for safer boarding (T1398)
Research Project
T1341
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
Framework for assessment of technologies to deliver reliable braking in low adhesion (T1341)
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
Research Project
T1392
End Date: 2026
Underway
The AI Change Toolkit will provide the industry with a common method to ensure the safe and efficient launch of AI-powered applications. Read More
Research Project
T1354
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
Enabling unplanned bi-directional running on a line signalled for only one direction (T1354)
Research Project
T1366
End Date: 2026
Underway
Developing and testing an algorithm for managing electrical traction power system capacity.
Read More
Research Project
T1395
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
Building an industry-wide landscape of current and emerging AI-powered applications in rail (T1395)
Knowledge Search
S395
End Date: 2026
Complete
Registered
PFAS in railway applications (S395)
Research Project
T1337
End Date: 2026
Complete
Understanding the ETCS driving task and the operational risks that are controlled either by the system or the driver. Read More
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Underway (x)
Safety (x)
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Customer (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Risk models (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Infrastructure asset management (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)
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)
Aerodynamics (x)
Overhead line equipment (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)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Derailment (x)
Keeping on-track staff safe (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)
Status
Topics
-
Control Command and Communication
- CCC asset management (4)
- CCC system integration and life cycle management (5)
- Control and display systems (16)
- Data and communications systems (41)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (17)
- Other - Control command and communication (35)
- Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (2)
- Signalling - Train detection systems (5)
- Signalling - Train protection systems (4)
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
-
Operations
- Customer services for freight (40)
- Customer services for passengers (73)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (2)
- Movement of trains (55)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (44)
- Operational Safety (29)
- Other - Operations (26)
- Revenue and ticketing (2)
- Security management (32)
- Stations management and passenger flow (27)
- Traffic supervision and management (32)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (100)
- Culture (43)
- Education and competence (8)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (32)
- Health and wellbeing (67)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (49)
- Human reliability (32)
- Job design (34)
- Selection and training (45)
- Trespass (1)
- Other - People behaviour and health (16)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (29)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (3)
- Rolling stock asset management (23)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (22)
- Rolling stock fire performance (7)
- Rolling stock interiors (5)
- Rolling stock maintenance (36)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (24)
- Rolling stock testing (26)
- Train design - Components (77)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (43)
- Other - Rolling stock (28)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Research Project
T1378
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
How do professional driving policies for locomotive-hauled trains change under ETCS (T1378)
Research Project
T1381
End Date: 2026
Underway
Looking at whether these standard freight gauges can be refined, including a contemporary assessment of vehicle dynamics and a review of the wagon and… Read More
Research Project
T1384
End Date: 2026
Underway
Enabling the industry to develop and deploy a tool to help signallers with regulation, reducing delays. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOS-06
End Date: 2026
Underway
A PhD studentship looking at how contaminated rail conditions change with the weather, as well as how contamination develops and the linked changes to… Read More
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
T1404
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
Investigating and proposing improvements for rolling stock heat insulation provision (T1404)
Research Project
T1376
End Date: 2026
Underway
Helping industry prepare for FRMCS and exploit the new system capabilities. 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
T1391
End Date: 2026
Underway
Registered
How to enable parcels traffic using existing stations and passenger train dwell times (T1391)
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Applied filters:
Complete (x)
Underway (x)
Safety (x)
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Cost (x)
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Customer (x)
Attitudes and behaviour (x)
Health and wellbeing (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)
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)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (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)
Status
Objectives
Topics
- Control Command and Communication
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
-
Operations
- Customer services for freight (4)
- Customer services for passengers (18)
- Movement of trains (1)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (2)
- Operational Safety (6)
- Other - Operations (7)
- Revenue and ticketing (2)
- Security management (8)
- Stations management and passenger flow (3)
- Traffic supervision and management (6)
- People Behaviour and Health
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (6)
- Rolling stock asset management (6)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (6)
- Rolling stock fire performance (2)
- Rolling stock maintenance (9)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (7)
- Rolling stock testing (4)
- Train design - Components (11)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (6)
- Other - Rolling stock (8)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
Sort By:
Results per page:
Knowledge Search
S373
End Date: 2023
Complete
Information on crushable desk and knee bolsters to protect drivers in accidents. Read More
Knowledge Search
S372
End Date: 2023
Complete
Reducing potential injuries from window breakages during accidents. Read More
Knowledge Search
S364
End Date: 2023
Complete
Quantifying the value of depots within the network, to improve investment decision-making. Read More
Knowledge Search
S371
End Date: 2022
Complete
Registered
Antimicrobial coatings (S371)
Knowledge Search
S361
End Date: 2022
Complete
Registered
Safety Reporting Systems (S361)
Knowledge Search
S365
End Date: 2022
Complete
Registered
Speaking Up About Safety (S365)
Knowledge Search
S367
End Date: 2021
Complete
A literature search into recent developments that might offer a way to protect GB train drivers in the event of a collision. Read More
Knowledge Search
S359
End Date: 2021
Complete
Registered
Solar Reflective Materials (S359)
Knowledge Search
S358
End Date: 2021
Complete
Registered
Telematics for Road Vehicles (S358)
Knowledge Search
S357
End Date: 2020
Complete
Evaluating whether mental health peer support schemes, such as mental health first aid, are effective in the railway industry. Read More