Get involved
How can we better exploit the available power for electric trains?Help unlock strategic changes by engaging with the Rail Technical StrategyBook now for the 2025 Vehicle/Track System Interface Committee and ADHERE seminar
Help us develop a real-time energy management system for traction power supply and demand.
Parts of the railway’s electric traction power network already run at full theoretical capacity at peak times. Demand for electrical power will only increase as more electric, battery, and multi-mode trains join the network.
Predicting and managing power more accurately and closer to real time would lead to smarter use of the capacity in the rail grid. In future, it could also lead to smarter use of the power held in onboard traction batteries.
Earlier RSSB research looked at the feasibility of developing an intelligent energy management system (EMS) for the railway. It focused on the Network Rail Western Route, which has implemented advanced data communication systems (IEC 61850). The findings proposed a way to transfer consumption, voltage, and current data between trains and the controller. Together with an advanced traffic management system and trains fitted with Connected Driver Advisory Systems, this will comprise a smart EMS.
The next step involves developing the logic and algorithms that will dynamically balance supply and demand of electric power.
More dynamic management of traction power supply and demand will improve sustainability and reliability, for example by:
informing decisions about where to run multi-mode trains on electric power and when to charge to traction batteries from the overhead wires
mitigating limitations to traction power that can exacerbate disruption when trains are held until other trains have left that power section
unlocking more electric paths through less conservative assumptions on power availability.
Together with University of Birmingham, we are carrying out early feasibility modelling and developing the detailed scope of the work. This includes identifying practical opportunities to apply and test the logic.
If you are working on rolling stock operational planning or timetabling on electrified routes and would like to get involved, contact Mark Hanham, Senior Research Analyst:
Mark.Hanham@rssb.co.uk
Keep up to date with this project at rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/T1366.
To see the completed feasibility study, go to rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/T1270.
Share what you are working on, learn about progress towards a Freight Friendly railway, and meet us at events during 2025.
The Rail Technical Strategy (RTS) is paving the way for an efficient and sustainable rail network that makes the most of existing and new assets. Your engagement with the strategy is critical to the success of this transformative journey.
We are working closely with industry groups and committees, as well as Network Rail asset groups, to map their initiatives and plans to the RTS priority routemaps. We call on all rail organisations to share information about their own projects and initiatives relating to the goals and stepping stones. Sharing will ensure that we all move forward collaboratively. It will also allow us to understand the pace of progress and to celebrate successes.
We are finalising a review of progress against the Freight Friendly functional priority, which launched 6 months ago. You will soon be able to see the latest status of that priority’s stepping stones on the RTS website.
The RTS Engine Room will be at the Rail Innovation Exhibition in London on 13 February 2025, the RIA Innovation Conference in Wales on 25–26 March 2025, and other events throughout the year. Join us to learn about the industry-agreed areas of technical focus, position your organisation at the forefront of innovation in rail, and participate in further evolving the strategy.
Email your comments and feedback, and share what you’re working on: RTS@rssb.co.uk
See the current list of ‘who is doing what’: railtechnicalstrategy.co.uk/rts-downloads
Register to attend the Rail Innovation Exhibition: iuk-business-connect.org.uk/events/rail-innovation-exhibition-2025
If you would like representatives of the Engine Room to present the RTS and discuss how your organisation or group can engage with it with, please get in touch:
RTS@rssb.co.uk
This popular annual event will be held on 5 March 2025 in York.
The joint Vehicle/Track System Interface Committee (V/T SIC) and ADHEsion Research Challenge (ADHERE) seminar is a unique opportunity to hear from experts, researchers, and innovators about the latest insights and solutions on the vehicle/track interface and wheel/rail adhesion.
The 2025 seminar will take place in person at The Hospitium in York. The day will start with the V/T SIC seminar, bringing you the latest findings on damage and wear mechanisms and new management approaches to the vehicle/track interface. The ADHERE seminar in the afternoon covers new knowledge and techniques to address adhesion issues.
Presentation topics include:
in-service track monitoring to better predict infrastructure deterioration
heavy axle weight assessment for underline bridges to inform a future route availability tool
lessons learnt from the take-up of variable-rate sanders.
The seminar is targeted at track and rolling stock engineers, seasonal delivery specialists, academics, and innovators. Anyone wishing to grow their understanding of these important areas is also welcome.
You will have opportunities to make valuable connections with colleagues and pose questions to the speakers. During the breaks and at lunchtime, you will be able to browse the exhibition stands.
The full programme and registration details are available at bit.ly/VTSIC25.
To discuss the seminar, or to find out about exhibition opportunities, contact Ben Altman, Senior Research Analyst:
Ben.Altman@rssb.co.uk
If you missed the 2024 V/T SIC and ADHERE seminar, you can still download the presentations from rssb.co.uk/spark/sparkitem/VTSIC-and-ADHERE-2024.
