Rail consultancy: Rolling Stock

The areas covered by our rolling stock consultancy team are:

• Supporting application of standards
• Analysis of standards
• Cross-industry leadership
• Asset management
• Benchmarking
• Product development
• Systems engineering 
• Assurance.

Our expert team has experience in:

• Structures
• Wheels and axles
• Brakes
• Draw gear and couplings
• Fire resistance
• Derailment risk
• Gauge
• Cab design
• Interior environment (air quality, lighting, noise, and vibration)
• Visibility and audibility
• Train safety systems
• Doors and windows
• Electromagnetic compatibility issues
• Data recorders
• Peer review
• Emerging and novel technologies

Why RSSB? 

RSSB’s rolling stock consultancy team have considerable knowledge and experience in all aspects of rolling stock and have worked first-hand on the challenges that industry faces. 

With many years of experience between them, gained both in the UK and abroad, our rail standards consultancy team works closely with our rolling stock experts. They combine industry expertise with a deep understanding of the physical aspects, the safety aspects, and power and control issues to help clients secure, protect, and optimise their rolling stock assets.

Their expertise includes diesel and electric locomotives, vehicle structures, rail vehicle dynamics, sanding, and electronic engineering as it applies to rolling stock, as well as other areas.

RSSB chairs the industry’s Rolling Stock Standards Committee, and our experts are active members. We’re one of the world’s go-to resources for impartial, expert technical knowledge which makes us ideal partners for a range of projects. 

Our rail consultancy service offers unrivalled access to experts who lead the industry on innovation and best practice, helping to reduce project time and project costs.

Challenges in Rolling Stock

Rolling stock companies face many issues in ensuring that the structures moving on the railway are working safely and efficiently. Whether passenger vehicles, freight wagons or traction locomotives, rolling stock directly affects the customer experience in rail. 

It is critical that the design and operation of rolling stock is not only safe, reliable, and efficient but also provides a comfortable environment for passengers, the ability to move freight safely and efficiently nationally, and supports environmental targets.

The introduction of new technologies throughout the network poses some common challenges. These include their efficient introduction and cascade with existing rolling stock, ensuring the reliable operation of rolling stock during and after the introduction, and the maintenance of staff competence.

What we’ve done