Work completed in 2024/25
Passengers are sitting more comfortably, thanks to research
The annual UK Rail Fire Forum
New leadership for the Independently Powered Traction Working Group
Guidance on seat comfort now also covers the effects of motion.
In 2019, V/V SIC asked RSSB to create the first guidance on how to assess train seat comfort. The guidance has been used by seat manufacturers, rolling stock manufacturers, and rolling stock buyers. It is now embedded as a Standards Guidance note (GMGN2696 Iss 1).
The next question was how to ensure that passengers stayed comfortable in the dynamic environment of a moving train. An opportunity to develop this additional assessment methodology arose when ScotRail started its specification for new rolling stock. The work, which used the University of Huddersfield’s Train Hi-fidelity Motion Simulator, is now complete for suburban type services. And it informed the ScotRail procurement process.
The next phase will use the same methodology, extending the analysis to other services and seat types. This will provide a complete suite of assessment capabilities covering seat comfort in static and dynamic situations.
V/V SIC has played a key role in supporting the work and promoting the assessment methodology.
Read the full research findings in the RSSB Research Catalogue (T1314).
Contact Paul Gray, Professional Lead, Engineering, RSSB, with any queries:
Paul.Gray@rssb.co.uk
A successful annual event to share good practice and new information.
The UK Rail Fire Forum is an annual gathering of experts, stakeholders, and rail operators with an interest in fire prevention.
Fire Forum’s 2024 seminar was well attended, with 61 representatives across 33 companies. It was led by Nick Swift from Eversholt Rail and RSSB’s Neil Dinmore. Topics included:
UK and international fire statistics and incidents
updating the Safety Risk Model
the link between human factors and passenger behaviour in evacuations
fire testing and changes to standards
how the risk profile is changing, from new consumer equipment to new forms of traction.
By sharing knowledge and good practice across the rail industry, we can learn from incidents and reduce the risk further.
Fire Forum’s 2025 seminar will be held at RSSB’s offices in London on 25 June 2025. For more information, contact Roisin Mulvany, Lead Industry Group Manager:
Roisin.Mulvany@rssb.co.uk
‘RSSB provided a really interesting seminar on fire. The focus being on emerging technologies, fire risk analysis and human behaviour in fire. The presentations by industry experts were thought provoking and included practical examples with lessons learned. A really good day of learning.’
This sub-group of V/V SIC has been re-energised under the guidance of a new Chair.
The leadership of Independently Powered Traction Working Group (IPTWG) changed at the start of 2024. This change has resulted in increased momentum and stronger engagement from existing and new members.
The group now has a greater focus on battery-powered trains as the industry adopts this technology to reduce carbon emissions. We widened the group’s member base to seek expertise in this field, including representation from Merseyrail, Irish Rail, Transport for Wales, and Transport UK.
IPTWG has engaged with industry on:
early learning from Great Western Railways fast charge battery train trial
early learning from the Merseyrail Class 777/1 Independently Powered Electric Multiple-Units operation to Headbolt Lane
work on the Rail Carbon Accounting Framework
workstreams on hydrogen and ammonia as a combustion fuel, including Irish Rail’s Hydrogen locomotive trial.
A report on Hydrogen will be published in RSSB’s Research Catalogue as S380. Further research is being commissioned on alternative fuels.
exploring the heat release rates of large lithium-ion batteries.
Research project T1367, which was triggered as a result, will investigate existing fire containment standards and whether they need to be strengthened for battery-powered trains.
emerging learning from Transport for Wales’s battery train plans and the new depot at Taff Wells.
Find out more about the work of the IPTWG on the RSSB website.
If you are working on decarbonisation initiatives for the GB’s large diesel-only train fleet, we invite you to join us or present on your initiatives.
Contact Simon Jarrett, Engineering Assurance & Development Manager, Chiltern Railways and Chair of IPTWG:
Simon.Jarrett@chlilternrailways.co.uk
