Get involved
A new Rail Technical Strategy functional priority puts the spotlight on freightHave you explored the curated collections available on SPARK?WCRR 2025: call for abstractsJoin us for the Vehicle/Structures System Interface Committee seminar
The 2024 refresh of the RTS is continuing at pace, with Freight Friendly launched in May.
The Rail Freight Group’s spring/summer meeting on 15 May 2024 saw the launch of the new Freight Friendly priority. The priority grew from extensive engagement with freight and the wider railway. It envisions better access to the network for freight operations and more efficient and safer running, supporting rail freight growth and transport decarbonisation. A routemap sets out the way to realising this vision, in practical and realistic steps. New case studies highlight recent successes in achieving a more freight-friendly railway.
We are now completing the refresh of more strands of the strategy. We are engaging with stakeholders to ensure that the functional priorities reflect the latest changes in industry and society. Industry agreement is also essential to setting out what needs to happen over the next five to eight years to get us closer to the vision. The updates will keep the strategy alive as a crucial tool for decision makers, guiding research and innovation.
Achieving success goes beyond technical solutions. Doing more to exploit the railway’s significant data asset, speed up the rollout of new technologies, and maintain a highly competent workforce—the three Rail Technical Strategy enablers—underpins the success of all five functional priorities.
Keep an eye out for more new content at railtechnicalstrategy.co.uk. For the latest news, follow #RailTechnicalStrategy on LinkedIn and X.
See the industry-agreed routemap for progressing towards a freight friendly railway at railtechnicalstrategy.co.uk/freight-friendly.
Have your say and contribute to the refresh of the other functional priorities and critical enablers by getting in touch:
RTS@rssb.co.uk
Make the most of SPARK, the rail knowledge hub, to find and share research.
We all agree that the rail industry needs to continue supporting innovative approaches, advancing railway science, and embracing new knowledge and ideas. PhD projects are an important source of fresh thinking.
It’s valuable to have a full picture of the academic student research currently underway in rail. We need to ensure that funding continues to be available for these projects and students. And we must make the most of the funding and the work it enables. Previously, it has been difficult to find out who’s doing what. That stops now, with the brand-new Academic Student Research record series on SPARK.
This resource collates information on current UK rail PhD projects. Information is supplied by industry organisations involved in funding the work, like RSSB and Network Rail, and by UK universities. You can download the full list or view an individual project. We hope to expand the information as more material becomes available for existing projects and new projects are funded.
Start exploring now: rssb.co.uk/academic-student-research
SPARK is the official repository for the World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR), housing papers for each Congress since 1994. In preparation for the 2025 event, we have overhauled the WCRR Record Series on SPARK. It is now easier to find previous papers and get the latest news and Congress updates.
Visit rssb.co.uk/spark/spark-wcrr for more information.
We need your help to keep SPARK a live and up-to-date knowledge hub, packed with the information you need on the latest railway research across the globe.
If you have conference papers or presentations, or if you would like discuss options to include your research on SPARK, please contact Nailah Fraser-Haynes, Senior Partnerships and Knowledge Exchange Manager:
Nailah.Fraser-Haynes@rssb.co.uk
Showcase your research to an international audience of rail researchers and leaders.
The World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR) is the largest international event of its kind. It is the top forum for researchers, technical experts, and industry leaders. It features leading speakers and new thinking on every aspect of the railway. There are unparalleled opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and discussing the latest and most promising advancements across the global rail community.
RSSB is a founding member of the Congress. We represent GB rail research on the WCRR International Committee. In 2022, we co-hosted with the University of Birmingham to bring WCRR to the UK.
Plans are now well underway for the next WCRR in November 2025. It will be hosted by MxV rail in Colorado, US. This will be the biggest WCRR event yet, combined with the International Heavy Haul Association’s Annual Conference.
The theme for WCRR 2025 is ‘Inspiring innovative and resilient railways’. This is a great opportunity to spread the word about the world-class research happening in the UK and engage with other leaders in railway research.
Find out more and submit your abstract at railresearchweek.com/wcrr-abstracts.
Papers from all past WCRR events can be found on SPARK, the railway research portal. Go to rssb.co.uk/spark/spark-wcrr.
To learn more about WCRR 2025, or to discuss sponsorship or exhibition opportunities, contact Sharon Odetunde, Head of Research Partnerships:
Sharon.Odetunde@rssb.co.uk
Get the latest on gauging research, route availability standards, and more.
The next Vehicle/Structures System Interface Committee (V/S SIC) seminar will explore the latest research and developments in several key areas. It’s scheduled for 21 October 2024 at the offices of Mott MacDonald, 10 Livery Street, Birmingham.
This seminar will delve into the latest research on freight gauges, addressing the need for supporting faster freight and enhancing container capabilities. This is crucial for the industry as it looks to improve efficiency and meet the growing demands of freight transportation.
Another key topic will be industry’s approach to platform-train interface issues, with valuable insights provided by experts from academia. This discussion will shed light on the challenges and potential solutions for this critical aspect of rail safety and efficiency.
The V/S SIC seminar will also cover recent changes to route availability standards, including guidance and calculation methods. This is an essential update for those involved in planning and operations.
There will also be a focus on the challenges associated with the vehicle-structure interface when recharging batteries. As the industry moves towards more sustainable practices, understanding these challenges will be key to successful implementation.
The full programme and registration details will soon be available at rssb.co.uk/events.
To discuss the seminar, contact Paul Gray, Professional Lead, Engineering: Paul.Gray@rssb.co.uk