<p><a class="link-style-default link-page" href="#!/page/65e0928503ed1f3a8edad6d0/1" link-style="Default" data-link-target="New tab" target="_blank" data-link-type="page">Getting more from the electrified railway network and rolling stock</a> | <a class="link-style-default link-page" href="#!/page/65e0928503ed1f3a8edad6d0/2" link-style="Default" data-link-target="New tab" target="_blank" data-link-type="page">Freight is spearheading the evolution of the Rail Technical Strategy</a> | <a class="link-style-default link-page" href="#!/page/65e0928503ed1f3a8edad6d0/3" link-style="Default" data-link-target="New tab" target="_blank" data-link-type="page">Risk modelling for rail in a changing world</a></p>
Traction power settings on electric rolling stock operating on the 25kV alternating current (AC) power network have changed over time. The industry has looked to increase the efficiency of electric rolling stock with modern traction technologies, including digital power regulation.
However, with a mix of ages of rolling stock and electrical infrastructure, different traction power settings are in use around the network. Furthermore—having become ‘custom and practice’ over the years—the justification for some requirements in existing rail standards is unclear. They may be unnecessarily limiting network capacity and operations.
This research will look into the background, technical specifications, and commercial justifications behind key traction power settings for AC electric rolling stock. It will identify the benefits of changing these settings to make better use of the 25kV AC traction power network. It will also consider the complexity of making the changes. The overall aim is to improve system capacity for electrified fleets or routes.
This research is being scoped. For its delivery, we will need access to data from contemporary electric fleets. Please get in touch if you can provide data or would like to be involved in the project steering group.
Stay up to date with the trial at rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue (search for T1331).
To discuss the project, contact Paul Gray, Professional Lead, Engineering:
Paul.Gray@rssb.co.uk
The 2024 refresh of the RTS is gathering momentum, with 'Freight Friendly'—a new functional priority—launching in May.
The 2020 version of the Rail Technical Strategy (RTS) has become a crucial tool for industry decision-makers. It guides research and innovation toward agreed objectives. It has been kept live, with regular progress updates against the stepping stones.
We have been evolving the strategy for its 2024 refresh. We want the RTS to recognise changes in the industry and society and capture key milestones essential for the rail sector's progress over the next five years.
An important change in the refreshed RTS is an increased emphasis on rail freight. We have been collaborating closely with stakeholders from the sector. These include the Great British Railways Transition Team and the Rail Freight Group. Together, we have developed a new functional priority tailored to freight operations. The launch of the ‘Freight-Friendly’ priority will be at the Rail Freight Group's Spring/Summer meeting on 15 May 2024.
Throughout the rest of the year, we will release updated route maps for all priorities and enablers. We will also release additional related content, providing a comprehensive roadmap for industry stakeholders.
Learn more about the current RTS at railtechnicalstrategy.co.uk
Catch the launch of the Freight-Friendly priority at the Rail Freight Group Spring/Summer meeting. Find out more and register at rfg.org.uk/event/spring-summer-meeting-and-bbq
We welcome discussion of the emerging content of RTS 2024 with rail organisations and cross-industry groups. If you are planning relevant initiatives or simply keen to provide input, please get in touch:
RTS@rssb.co.uk
An exciting new programme of research will allow more holistic, dynamic, and robust risk modelling.
RSSB’s safety risk modelling capabilities are considered world leading. However, what the rail industry needs from risk analysis is growing and changing. Over the past few years, RSSB has been asked to help with urgent and complex questions that needed a holistic evaluation of risk. Our current modelling capabilities are not well suited for these needs.
For example, industry needs better ways to assess risks from changing external factors, such as extreme weather events. New methods are also needed to tackle vulnerabilities that cut across the whole system, such as the growing number and sophistication of digital components.
RSSB is therefore setting up the Future Risk Modelling (FRM) research programme. This programme is aimed at updating and enhancing our risk‐modelling capabilities. We will go beyond traditional safety considerations to include the impact on journey reliability and cost of assets.
The FRM programme will focus on five key capabilities needed to inform many industry decisions:
data integration to make it easy to incorporate new sources of information into existing and new approaches to modelling
fit-for-purpose granularity to model risk at a more local level
beyond safety risk to understand the relationship between safety, journey reliability, and cost
system vulnerabilities to understand how changes cutting across the whole rail system could affect safety and resilience
enabling innovation by developing better ways to model and manage new risk factors when there is no historical data.
We are now planning the first set of research projects. For more information about the FRM programme, and to discuss how to get involved, contact Liz Davies, Professional Lead, Data and Modelling:
Liz.Davies@rssb.co.uk