Research in progress
Could freight trains travel faster than 75 mph? | Unlocking higher freight speeds from existing stockFuture-proofing the digital railway | What information is needed to make rail date easier to use?
Research is looking at one barrier to superfast freight – the risks caused by aerodynamic effects.
A new generation of freight locomotives and wagons is entering service on the GB network with capability to haul freight at higher speeds than have been traditionally possible. One example is the new class 93 locomotive, which has a top service speed of 110mph. Yet, for freight services on the GB network, an upper limit of 75mph remains in place.
With such divergence between train capability and permitted speeds, industry is keen to unlock freight haulage at speeds beyond 75mph.
One reason for the blanket restriction to 75mph lies in aerodynamics. The aerodynamic effects of freight trains passing through stations are different from those of passenger trains, and objects can be sucked towards the edge of the platform. At higher speeds, the aerodynamic effects associated with slipstream, pressure waves, and micro pressure waves are increased, potentially bringing additional risk to the network.
There's real opportunity for innovation to increase freight speeds in line the capabilities of the rolling stock. This research is a big step towards supporting that aim.
This research is assessing industry standards and guidance related to freight train movements and associated aerodynamic risk, to identify whether and how freight train speeds above 75 mph could be accommodated.
Following this, RSSB will carry out work to support the definition of new aerodynamic threshold values. While other barriers to faster freight would remain, this work aims to find solutions to restrictions due to aerodynamic effects.
Keep up to date with the project, go to the RSSB Research Catalogue and search for T1303. Or contact Aaron Barrett, Lead Research Analyst: Aaron.Barrett@rssb.co.uk
Introduction of the European Rail Traffic Management System is an opportunity to recognise freight trains’ actual braking capabilities.
How fast freight trains are allowed to travel is partly governed by their assumed braking capabilities. It is known that many trains have better braking than is assumed, meaning these services may be running at speeds lower than necessary. This has negative impacts for freight operators and the overall rail system, causing increased costs, decreased path availability, and reduced overall network capacity.
The introduction of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is an opportunity to increase the operating speed of freight trains by taking account of the trains’ actual braking capabilities. Braking capability is calculated as a ‘lambda value’. If the train has a lambda value higher than a specific threshold, we can set a higher maximum speed using an Enhanced Freight speed (EF) differential (up to the GB rail maximum limit of 75 mph).
Our research is looking at the benefits of using a lambda-based EF speed differential. It will also provide industry with support to put the EF
permissible speed into use, and identify barriers that need to be overcome before wider industry rollout of the EF differential can be achieved.
Keep up to date with the research, go to the RSSB Research Catalogue and search for T1266.
RSSB is looking to work with freight operators to be early adopters of EF-speed differentials. To find out more, contact Aaron Barrett, Lead Research Analyst: Aaron.Barrett@rssb.co.uk
Preparing to assure new systems and technologies that may be introduced over the next 15 years.
As technological change continues at a rapid rate and the use of digital systems grows, there is a risk that established assurance techniques will not be suitable for new products and systems, leaving industry playing catch-up.
This project aims to anticipate asset assurance issues, and identify changes needed. Looking about 15 years into the future, the research will identify upcoming systems and technologies, especially those that are expected to change or develop rapidly, and evaluate current assurance approaches against them.
Findings will provide evidence on whether current approaches are sufficient. Where current approaches fall short, the research will make recommendations on how assurance needs to change to manage the new and changed risk such assets introduce.
Control, Command and Signalling systems have been selected as the area of focus. Lessons learned from this area could also be applied to other systems.
The project will help industry to understand and agree how to address deficiencies in good time, for example by creating new assurance techniques and support tools, or modifying existing ones.
Keep up to date with the project, go to the RSSB Research Catalogue and search for T1315.
This project is championed and steered by the Asset Integrity Group. To discuss the project, contact Liz Davies, Professional Lead, Data and Modelling: Liz.Davies@rssb.co.uk
Documenting and assuring data sources ready for use in a data-driven railway.
Big data offers opportunities to drive improvements in safety, efficiency, service reliability and customer service. The railway is meeting the challenge, collecting ever-greater volumes of data and finding more and more ways to benefit from its analysis and use. Data is being relied on for service-based applications (such as customer-facing apps) as well as evidence-based tools to support operational decisions.
Current lack of detailed knowledge about data sets, their relationships with different industry systems, and their change management process often undermines the ability of ‘data consumers’ to create data-led, innovative solutions.
The high-level vision for this research is to develop and agree a structured approach to documenting and assuring rail data sources. The focus is on developing a Framework for Describing Data Sources (FDDS): a standard set of metadata that identifies key characteristics of any rail related data set.
Having this information will allow current and potential consumers of rail-related data to know whether and how different data sources can support the needs and aspirations they have today, and to what extent data can be relied upon in the future.
Longer-term, the FDDS will be integrated into the set of metadata being used by the Rail Data Marketplace (RDM) initiative. The RDM team is actively engaged in the project.
Keep up to date with the project, go to the RSSB Research Catalogue and search for T1297.
To discuss the project, contact Liz Davies, Professional Lead, Data and Modelling: Liz.Davies@rssb.co.uk
