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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Operational Safety (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Education and competence (x)
Rolling stock fire performance (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (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)
Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x)
CCC system integration and life cycle management (x)
Gauging (x)
Human Factors in event reporting (x)
Energy metering and billing (x)
ADHERE (x)
PERFORM (x)
DECARB (x)
CLEAR (x)
FREIGHT (x)
RESILIENT (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Objectives
Topics
-
Control Command and Communication
- CCC asset management (4)
- CCC system integration and life cycle management (2)
- Control and display systems (16)
- Data and communications systems (45)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (14)
- Other - Control command and communication (36)
- 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 (39)
- Customer services for passengers (96)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (3)
- Movement of trains (61)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (45)
- Operational Safety (26)
- Other - Operations (32)
- Revenue and ticketing (10)
- Security management (39)
- Stations management and passenger flow (30)
- Traffic supervision and management (43)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (127)
- Culture (56)
- Education and competence (8)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (35)
- Health and wellbeing (83)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (56)
- Human reliability (44)
- Job design (40)
- Selection and training (48)
- Other - People behaviour and health (21)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (40)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (6)
- Rolling stock asset management (29)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (27)
- Rolling stock fire performance (8)
- Rolling stock interiors (4)
- Rolling stock maintenance (43)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (24)
- Rolling stock testing (32)
- Train design - Components (92)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (49)
- Other - Rolling stock (37)
- Safety and Risk
Date
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Research Project
COF-MLD-05
End Date: 2026
Underway
This study aims to understand the uncertainty in people’s perceptions of rail transit experience and investigate how these uncertainties impact… Read More
Research Project
COF-MLD-04
End Date: 2026
Underway
A framework for capturing and assessing customer feedback in the rail industry to help understand passenger experience in greater depth. 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
COF-MLD-03
End Date: 2025
Underway
Registered
Exploring late adopters’ engagement with digital technology in the rail sector (COF-MLD-03)
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
COF-UOS-05
End Date: 2025
Underway
A PhD studentship to improve understanding of low adhesion friction in transience, and develop an on-train prediction system. Read More
Research Project
T1314
End Date: 2025
Underway
Registered
Dynamic seat comfort for passengers (T1314)
Research Project
T1316
End Date: 2025
Underway
Research in response to Recommendation 12 of the RAIB Rail Accident Report into the derailment of a passenger train at Carmont, Aberdeenshire on 12… Read More
Research Project
COF-IAT-01
End Date: 2025
Underway
A PhD to investigate the use of advanced technologies, such as digital twins, to reduce the risks involved in compatibility assurance and approval,… Read More
Research Project
T1325
End Date: 2025
Underway
Registered
Rail Carbon Accounting Framework (T1325)
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Risk models (x)
Wheel-rail interface (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)
Human performance (x)
Station design (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Track design and components (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Culture (x)
Adhesion (x)
Selection and training (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Data and communications systems (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Other - Energy and electrification (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Human reliability (x)
Structures (x)
Security management (x)
Job design (x)
Traffic supervision and management (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Braking systems (x)
Stations management and passenger flow (x)
Other - Rolling stock (x)
Other - Operations (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Power supply (x)
Social dynamics of transport (x)
Rolling stock asset management (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Value from data (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Future technologies (x)
Control and display systems (x)
Aerodynamics (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Movement authorities and signalling systems (x)
Safety data analysis (x)
Other - Interfaces (x)
Safety decision support (x)
Rail Standardisation (x)
Safety data collection (x)
Education and competence (x)
Accident investigation and learning (x)
Rolling stock fire performance (x)
Signalling - Train detection systems (x)
Rolling stock interiors (x)
CCC asset management (x)
Revenue and ticketing (x)
Electrical safety (x)
Signalling - Train protection systems (x)
Derailment (x)
Keeping on-track staff safe (x)
Signalling - People protection and warning systems including level crossings (x)
CCC system integration and life cycle management (x)
Gauging (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
Human Factors in event reporting (x)
Energy metering and billing (x)
ADHERE (x)
PERFORM (x)
DECARB (x)
CLEAR (x)
FREIGHT (x)
RESILIENT (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Objectives
Topics
-
Control Command and Communication
- CCC asset management (4)
- CCC system integration and life cycle management (2)
- Control and display systems (16)
- Data and communications systems (39)
- Movement authorities and signalling systems (12)
- 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 (30)
- Customer services for passengers (67)
- Keeping on-track staff safe (2)
- Movement of trains (56)
- Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (43)
- Operational Safety (22)
- Other - Operations (25)
- Revenue and ticketing (4)
- Security management (32)
- Stations management and passenger flow (28)
- Traffic supervision and management (31)
-
People Behaviour and Health
- Attitudes and behaviour (100)
- Culture (43)
- Education and competence (6)
- Equipment workplace and environmental design (31)
- Health and wellbeing (63)
- Human Factors in event reporting (1)
- Human performance (50)
- Human reliability (33)
- Job design (31)
- Selection and training (42)
- Other - People behaviour and health (17)
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (28)
- On board power supplies and monitoring (1)
- Rolling stock asset management (23)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (22)
- Rolling stock fire performance (6)
- Rolling stock interiors (4)
- Rolling stock maintenance (34)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (19)
- Rolling stock testing (25)
- Train design - Components (76)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (42)
- Other - Rolling stock (28)
- Safety and Risk
Date
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Results per page:
Research Project
T1332
End Date: 2025
Underway
How mobile phones can help drivers in their tasks, and the requirements these devices will need to meet. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-80
End Date: 2025
Underway
Registered
Squat initiation under braking (COF-UOH-80)
Research Project
T1330
End Date: 2025
Underway
Potential benefits and use cases for fitting sensors on rolling stock and making use of the data. Read More
Research Project
T1279
End Date: 2025
Underway
Establishing bespoke pass and fail thresholds for assessing the severity of colour vision deficiency in mainline train drivers, with respect to their… Read More
Research Project
COF-HTT-01
End Date: 2024
Underway
Finding common approaches to wheel-rail interfaces for new tram-train services, aiming to cut costs and reduce uncertainty. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-78
End Date: 2024
Underway
Helping industry to detect wagon defects using Wheel Impact Load Detector data, by automating and reporting the data analytics. Read More
Research Project
COF-G24-02
End Date: 2024
Underway
Developing and evaluating enzyme treatments for breaking down the black layer of leaf film that causes low adhesion on the railhead. Read More
Research Project
COF-UOH-79
End Date: 2024
Underway
Understanding the effect of leaf type and condition, and environmental and operational factors, on the bonding strength of the black leaf film that… Read More
Research Project
T1326
End Date: 2024
Underway
Understanding how the introduction of assisted braking and door operation changes the operational profile of the railway. Read More
Research Project
T1278
End Date: 2024
Underway
The first industry-wide survey to understand musculoskeletal disorders in front-line staff. Read More
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On board power supplies and monitoring (x)
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Value from data (x)
Selection and training (x)
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Movement of trains (x)
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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)
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)
FREIGHT (x)
Clear date filter (x)
Status
Topics
- Control Command and Communication
- Energy and Electrification
- Infrastructure
- Interfaces
- Operations
- People Behaviour and Health
- Policy and Decision Making
- Rolling stock
Programme
Date
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Innovation Project
I01-CLR-06
End Date: 2023
Complete
Registered
Assisted VSTP (I01-CLR-06)
Innovation Project
SC04-POT-17
End Date: 2021
Underway
Registered
Powertrain: Dual fuel technology for improving operating costs and emissions from DMU (SC04-POT-17)
Innovation Project
I01-CLR-05
End Date: 2021
Complete
Registered
Pathfinder (I01-CLR-05)
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
Registered
Trainserv (I12-TCV-02)
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
Registered
Intelligent Gatelines (SC12-TCX-04)
Innovation Project
SC04-POB-15
End Date: 2019
Complete
Registered
Predictable and Optimised Braking: Using cryogenic technology to increase adhesion (SC04-POB-15)
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Customer services for passengers (x)
Other - Safety and risk (x)
Health and wellbeing (x)
Other - Policy and decision making (x)
Station design (x)
Sustainable development (x)
Other - Infrastructure (x)
Future technologies (x)
Adaptation to climate change (x)
Culture (x)
Power supply (x)
Infrastructure asset management (x)
Rolling stock maintenance (x)
Commercial dynamics of transport (x)
Train design - Components (x)
Railways Interoperability (x)
Wheel-rail interface (x)
Track design and components (x)
Human reliability (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)
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Structures (x)
Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (x)
Value from data (x)
Vehicle track dynamics (x)
Braking systems (x)
Rolling stock passenger comfort (x)
Risk models (x)
Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (x)
Rolling stock testing (x)
Energy collection systems (x)
Customer services for freight (x)
Other - People behaviour and health (x)
Equipment workplace and environmental design (x)
Operational Safety (x)
Smart grids and energy harvesting (x)
Human performance (x)
Overhead line equipment (x)
Adhesion (x)
Whole system design and modelling (x)
Education and competence (x)
Operation of road-rail interfaces including level crossings (x)
Selection and training (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)
Other - Energy and electrification (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)
Human Factors in event reporting (x)
Other - Control command and communication (x)
Energy metering and billing (x)
ADHERE (x)
CLEAR (x)
DECARB (x)
PERFORM (x)
RESILIENT (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 (4)
- Other - Operations (7)
- Revenue and ticketing (2)
- Security management (7)
- Stations management and passenger flow (2)
- Traffic supervision and management (6)
- People Behaviour and Health
- Policy and Decision Making
-
Rolling stock
- Braking systems (5)
- Rolling stock asset management (6)
- Rolling stock condition monitoring and inspection (5)
- Rolling stock fire performance (2)
- Rolling stock maintenance (9)
- Rolling stock passenger comfort (5)
- Rolling stock testing (4)
- Train design - Components (9)
- Train design - Structure and crashworthiness (6)
- Other - Rolling stock (8)
- Safety and Risk
Programme
Date
From: To:
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Results per page:
Knowledge Search
S346
End Date: 2019
Complete
Evaluation of further safeguards to prevent passengers from being caught by doors. Read More
Knowledge Search
S130
End Date: 2019
Complete
Understanding how people make judgments and decisions, with a view to identifying opportunities to improve the quality of decisions. Read More
Knowledge Search
S342
End Date: 2019
Complete
Registered
Research Landscape Bridge load modelling for high-speed rail and ballastless track (S342)
Knowledge Search
S343
End Date: 2019
Complete
Understanding how public transport use by People with Disabilities (PwD) - who are proportionally low users of public transport - could be improved. Read More
Knowledge Search
S338
End Date: 2019
Complete
Investigating the impact of emerging technologies, new policies and processes, on standards in different industries and how these changes could… Read More
Knowledge Search
S339
End Date: 2019
Complete
Registered
Training to prevent abuse of staff (S339)
Knowledge Search
S341
End Date: 2019
Complete
Identifying information that may influence passengers to self-evacuate in the event of a stranded train. Read More
Knowledge Search
S337
End Date: 2019
Complete
Understanding the Hyperloop landscape, the sustainability of its business model based, and identifying uncertainties. Read More
Knowledge Search
S333
End Date: 2019
Complete
Understanding the implications of the continued employment of older drivers, in the context of the abolition of the statutory retirement age in 2011. Read More
Knowledge Search
S316
End Date: 2019
Complete
Registered