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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) 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) 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) Traffic supervision and management (x) Other - Energy and electrification (x) Equipment workplace and environmental design (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) 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) Clear date filter (x)

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Research Project
COF-HSF
End Date: 2026
Underway
Unlocking high speeds for intermodal traffic through better understanding of the wagon requirements. Read More
Research Project
T1380
End Date: 2026
Underway
Helping operators to design policies that avoid significant driver overload and underload. Read More
Research Project
T1389
End Date: 2026
Underway
Simplifying the protection arrangements for autonomous, self-powered inspection trolleys used for track maintenance. Read More
Research Project
T1393
End Date: 2026
Underway
This research aims to improve the understanding of the risk to workers from respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and non-crystalline silica during… Read More
Research Project
COF-UOS22-03
End Date: 2026
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
COF-UOH-RAATS
End Date: 2026
Underway
A series of projects have looked at data on the approaches to red aspect signals with a view to understanding any patterns that emerge in a bid to… Read More
Research Project
T1370
End Date: 2026
Underway
Research to inform an update of the relevant standard, so that the industry can make best use of the latest technologies. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOS22-05
End Date: 2026
Underway
Testing the effects of recycled glass particles to determine if they could be used as an alternative to rail sand in low adhesion conditions. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-87
End Date: 2026
Underway
Developing a tool that uses train signalling data to automatically identify overspeed events and enable more proactive management of risks. Read More
Research Project
T1396
End Date: 2026
Underway
This research will update and expand on the evidence base surrounding underline bridge strikes. It will assess existing mitigations and identify… Read More
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Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (x) Safety (x) Capacity (x) Cost (x) Sustainability (x) 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) 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) 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)

Topics

Date

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Research Project
T120
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project quantifies the risks associated with the carriage of diesel fuel on passenger trains, and identifies viable risk mitigation measures… Read More
Research Project
T230a
End Date: 2003
Complete
A review of ethical considerations underlying public opinion regarding railway safety and decision-making. Read More
Research Project
T258
End Date: 2003
Complete
Identifying attributes and competencies for front line managers and supervisors in safety critical roles, and developing a robust process for the… Read More
Research Project
T246
End Date: 2003
Complete
This project produced a common set of passenger safety signs suitable for use on existing rail vehicles, made them available to the industry through a… Read More
Research Project
T126
End Date: 2003
Complete
Surveying current practices in safety decision-making to identify and promulgate good practice, and to identify training needs to support decision… Read More
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
Showing for
Applied filters: Complete (x) Underway (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) 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)

Topics

Programme

Date

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Knowledge Search
S204
End Date: 2015
Complete
What alternative fuel and energy sources could replace diesel over the next 30 years for independently powered trains? Read More
Knowledge Search
S208
End Date: 2015
Complete
Exploring the potential of non-ticket revenue sources for railway stations. Read More
Knowledge Search
S216
End Date: 2015
Complete
What are the benefits or risks of driverless car technology and what impact might it have on the rail industry? Read More
Knowledge Search
S220
End Date: 2015
Complete
What are the documented effects of fasting on train drivers’ fitness for duty, and what advice is available for drivers and their employers? Read More
Knowledge Search
S228
End Date: 2015
Complete
What methods can be used to keep torqued bolts of rail wheelset axle bearings tight, particularly when they are subject to harsh vibrational… Read More
Knowledge Search
S231
End Date: 2015
Complete
What are the expected benefits and measured benefits of more standardised and interoperable rail networks? Read More
Knowledge Search
S235
End Date: 2015
Complete
What do we know about the biochemistry of leaf contaminated films on railheads? Read More
Knowledge Search
S233
End Date: 2015
Complete
How could UK railway assets be used to generate new revenue streams and cost savings? Read More
Knowledge Search
S190
End Date: 2014
Complete
Knowledge Search
S179
End Date: 2014
Complete
What are the applications of open source software in rail and how might these benefit the industry? Read More