Research,
Development
and Innovation
quarterly summary
Q1 2015/16
Contents
Rail Technical Strategy
Customer experience pp04
• Innovation funding could deliver over £70m benefits
• Better use of data could improve customer experience
• New canopy system removes need for track closure
Rolling stock
pp05
• Rolling stock challenge
• Abellio Greater Anglia run pilot innovation academy workshop to
develop innovation capabilities
• Teams compete to build a working locomotive in the IMechE
Railway Challenge
• Next Generation Rail event highlights
Rail Health and Safety Strategy
pp09
Platform Train Interface Strategy
pp09
• Objective review confirms platform recess design
pp06
• High voltage coupler opens doors to greater speed and
increased capacity
• Improving electricity flow using dynamic pantographs
Infrastructure
pp07
• Working to make level crossings safer
• New study paves the way for reducing delays due to low
adhesion
Energy
Enabling innovation
pp06
• Developing new ways to avoid bridge reconstruction and
increase electrification
• Research compiled to show the extent climate change will
affect the resilience of the railway
Knowledge sharing
pp10
• London Underground joins SPARK in knowledge sharing partnership
Introduction
Our research and innovation programmes are driven by
the ambition of the Rail Technical Strategy to dramatically
increase customer satisfaction and capacity whilst reducing cost
and carbon. These are long term aims but also contribute to
improved levels of performance in the short term and stimulate
increased innovation in the supply chain.
The RSSB contribution to the industry’s Future Railway
programme brings together research and innovation programmes
that focus on identifying the technology and activity needed to
deliver the railway of the future. The Future Railway programme
promotes and encourages innovation to bridge the gaps. In
addition, the R&D programme continues to support the industry
by providing solutions to current railway problems
and opportunities.
Over the past 12 months RSSB has worked with a number of
partners, including Network Rail, to enhance, promote and deliver
research, development and innovation programmes and
projects within the rail industry.
We currently have 119 live innovation contracts at
different stages of development and 80 live R&D
projects in delivery.
The highlights from the last three months span the Rail
Technical Strategy and the coming Health and Safety
Strategy with a strong focus on customer experience,
rolling stock, infrastructure and innovation capabilities.
Through our programmes, suppliers, operators and
academia collaborate to share data and knowledge, find
solutions to whole system challenges and upskill their
workforces, to ensure the railway can continue to improve
and strive towards the railway of the future.
Here are some of the highlights from the last quarter.
3
Rail Technical Strategy Customer Experience
The Rail Technical Strategy represents a significant component of the rail industry’s vision to improve the
efficiency, health, safety, commercial and operational performance of Britain’s railways. It sets out nine
themes - Control, Command and Communication, Energy, Infrastructure, Rolling Stock, Information,
Customer Experience, Innovation, People and Whole System.
Work is continuously taking place to address the themes. This quarter we have key updates on projects
from five of the nine.
Customer Experience
Delivering an excellent customer experience for passengers is one of the driving forces behind the Rail
Technical Strategy and the work carried out by the research, development and innovations teams at RSSB.
We have facilitated three competitions, one aimed at helping TOC’s to improve service, one focused on
academics and the use of data, and a third which aims to reduce disruption to customers.
Innovation funding could deliver over £70m benefits
More than £70m of benefits to passengers and the industry could be delivered by the three winning projects
from RSSB’s Train Operator Competition 2015 (TOC’15).
With a strong focus on their customers the winners are developing schemes to deliver real benefits: Arriva
UK Trains intend to develop and trial a ‘buy now pay later’ scheme, Govia Thameslink Railway are looking at
solutions to crowding and First intend to improve disruption management and to empower the passenger
during delays.
Launched in March by Transport Minister Claire Perry, the £6m collaborative innovation fund is for projects
which support the Rail Technical Strategy (RTS) and contribute to the 4C industry targets (Improving Customer
experience and Capacity whilst reducing Cost and Carbon).
Better use of data could improve customer experience
Four projects, facilitated by RRUKA, aimed at the improving the use of data to enhance the passenger’s
experience, have been given the go ahead. The winning universities will begin their research in September,
seeking novel ideas on how to make best use of current data to improve customer experience.
The projects selected are:
• Intelligent predictive models for crowding (University of Kent) aims to develop models for rail crowding that
provide customers with real time predictions in advance of travel to help they plan their journey.
• Enhance the experience for passengers with special needs and/or disabilities (University of Surrey, University
of Southampton, Loughborough University) aims to develop prototypes of how data sources can be used to
enhance the experience of these passengers, particularly when unplanned disruptions occur.
• Influence passengers behaviour (University of Southampton) aims to prove the feasibility of mitigating
crowding by improving information provision that influences passengers travel choices.
• Customer-centric rail passenger information applications (Manchester Metropolitan University, University
of Edinburgh, University of Manchester) aims to develop a semantic data model and an ontology that will
enable the provision of information that is personalised and context-centric, rather than
data-centric.
Dissemination will start in March 2016 and will culminate in October 2016 at the RRUKA Annual Conference.
4
Rail Technical Strategy Rolling Stock
New canopy system removes need for track closure
An innovative platform canopy system removes the need for track closures by using an arc motion lifting
and installation system.
The system, which was trialled in Merseyside, allows for full canopies to be installed enabling the
positioning of individual pieces and fixing them together without the use of traditional railway closures.
By reducing installation time and providing greater levels of safety during installation and maintenance,
passengers will benefit from no disruption to services whilst work is carried out.
This project has been funded through the Rail Innovation Support Engine (RISE) programme. RISE is the
open competition run by the Future Railway programme to encourage innovators of all shapes and sizes to
come forward with ideas.
The programme is always open and does not limit entries by theme.
Rolling Stock
Over the past few months research projects into adhesion delivered significant results and eight winning
applications gained funding as part of the Rail Operator Challenge Competition.
Rolling stock challenge
Eight winners gained a share of up to £3.5 million funding pot from the Future Railway programme’s Rail
Operator Challenge Competition. One winner has the potential to save the industry up to 70 million litres
of diesel fuel per annum with corresponding reductions in carbon emissions and traction energy costs.
There are five projects which have already been awarded and are underway with the following lead
organisations and operators:
• Embed Ltd with Southern Rail - Application of automotive electronic principles and systems to rolling
stock to achieve improved operational performance
• First Rail Holdings Ltd - A real time driver assistance system
• GOBOTix Ltd with Chiltern Railways - Automated train maintenance inspection and anomaly detection
using machine vision
• MRX Technologies with Arriva Trains UK - Improved inspection of wheel damage using magnetic
flux leakage
• Vortex Exhaust Technology Ltd with Northern Rail - Rail diesel carbon efficiency
New study paves the way for reducing delays due to low adhesion
Sanders are used by certain classes of trains to improve adhesion between the wheel and rail to enable
effective braking and acceleration. There have always been limits on the extent of sanding due to concerns
that it could affect train detection and compromise the safety of the signalling system.
New research has demonstrated an overwhelming case for making greater use of sanding to improve train
performance in conditions of low adhesion without needing to be concerned over the impact on train
detection. This opens the door for development of enhanced sanding systems, and potential to reduce
adhesion related delays by more than half.
5
Rail Technical Strategy Energy Infrastructure
Energy
With an enduring target to reduce journey times and increase capacity, there is a need to operate short
(less than 200m) electric trains coupled together at speeds above 110 mph.
Running trains in this way needs two pantographs to transfer electricity. But, operating two pantographs
above 110 mph results in a decrease in successful connections and an increased risk of damaging the
wires, potentially bringing them down. We have funded two projects to try address this challenge.
High voltage coupler opens doors to greater speed and increased capacity
One is to use just one pantograph and a high voltage coupler. The Future Railway programme is developing a new high voltage coupler
to exploit this opportunity and innovator Thornley Electrical Design have successfully developed a 25,000 volt
coupler to ‘proof of concept’. Once fully developed, this should enable faster, less crowded, more reliable services
on the UK’s electrified lines.
Improving electricity flow using dynamic pantographs
The other option is to use dynamic pantograph, which maintains a continuous, reliable contact between the
pantograph and the overhead wire of electric trains, by adapting its position to compensate for any movement
of the wires.
This has the possibility to reduce service disruption in severe weather conditions, allow multiple pantograph
operation, allow higher speed operation on existing infrastructure, and offer both train and infrastructure
maintenance and reliability benefits.
Infrastructure
To deliver a highly effective rail service to increasing customer numbers the infrastructure must be simple,
reliable and cost-effective but also able to adapt to the changing requirements of the industry.
Changes to the infrastructure are costly and affected by many external factors. Programmes facilitated by
RSSB are dedicated to supplying new solutions to long standing challenges and finding out more about how
to deal with external factors.
Developing new ways to avoid bridge reconstruction and reduce electrification cost
In order to electrify the line across the whole network in Great Britain, the railway infrastructure will require alterations. To allow the equipment
needed to allow electricity to continuously flow to trains the spaces beneath bridges will need to be enlarged or lifted.
The Future Railway programme has identified and shortlisted, seven projects which could offer new solutions to avoid rebuilding bridges.
For example the avoidance of bridge reconstruction for current plans could save up to £150m on the cost of electrification.
They include:
1. Raising a masonry arch bridge by jacking while still in place, preventing the need to replace the bridge (pictured).
2. A new software programme has been developed to establish if the gauge clearance under bridges can be
reduced in certain circumstances. The new programme will consider the actual worst case of train movement
instead of a presumed worst case. In some cases this will allow a decrease in the space required and mean
that overhead lines can run under the bridges.
3. Pre-cast track bed to reduce the depth of a track bed and eliminate track movement.
4. Asphalt used to reduce the depth of a track bed, increasing the available clearance space.
5. Development of insulation for tunnel and bridge approaches so clearance space between the overhead lines
and the bridge can be reduced. If the space or insulation is not adequate there is the risk the electricity will
jump across the gap decreasing the power being fed to the train and increasing the risk of electricity running
through the structure.
6
Rail Technical Strategy Infrastructure Enabling innovation
Research compiled to show the extent climate change will affect the resilience of the railway
The most significant external influence on the infrastructure is the weather, hotter, drier summers, milder, wetter
winters, more frequent and intense extreme weather events and higher sea levels will affect the resilience of the
whole railway system.
Phase 1 of the ‘Tomorrow’s Railway and Climate Change Adaptation’ project surveyed the possible effects of
changing weather patterns on Britain’s railway as part of an industry wide attempt to assess and mitigate risk by
anticipating future challenges. By looking at the potential problems now, industry is planning ahead to consider
future changes to its approach to railway design and operations.
This first phase has identified over 120 recommendations relating to increasing the resilience of Britain’s railways
and its various sub-systems in the short, medium and long term; with 10 key recommendations highlighted as
priorities following consultation with GB rail experts.
Enabling innovation
RSSB supports a large enabling innovation programme which works with the industry to
improve innovation capabilities of rail organisations. Encouraging the development of
skills required to help the industry innovate and promote itself to new entrants is key to
continued improvement.
Abellio Greater Anglia run pilot innovation academy workshop to develop innovation capabilities
The Innovation Academy sets out to train and develop managers, supplying them with the tools and techniques
required to develop ideas from inception to implementation with the aim of improving innovative thinking and
abilities from within organisations.
This pilot workshop enables the Future Railway programme to consider how training can address the barriers to
developing innovation from within rail organisations. Insights gained during the pilot will serve to refine the training
syllabus for future use.
7
Rail Technical Strategy Enabling innovation
Teams compete to build a working locomotive in the IMechE Railway
challenge
Each year the IMechE Railway Challenge brings together teams of university
students, apprentices and graduates working in industry across the UK to test their
abilities to design and manufacture a miniature (10¼” gauge) railway locomotive in
accordance with a challenging set of rules and a technical specification.
At the competition weekend the teams compete against each other to test their
locomotive designs and determine a winner. David Clarke, RSSB’s Director of
Innovation is part of the judging panel which decides on the winning locomotive
each June. This year’s winner was London Underground.
The ongoing development of news skills in the next generation is integral to
the future of the railway and the Future Railway programme is committed to
encouraging and promoting
new talent.
Next Generation Rail event highlights
Over a three day period RRUKA delivered its third successful Next Generation Rail
Conference bringing together 190 delegates from over 70 organisations.
The conference featured a number of international speakers, encouraging
attendees to share knowledge and develop skills whilst sharing best practice as
they grow into their roles as dynamic, future industry leaders.
In addition, a series of technical site visits to the University of Warwick’s Warwick
Manufacturing Group (WMG), Siemen’s Kings Heath depot in Northampton,
Oleo International and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) gave
delegates the opportunity to experience first-hand some of the state-of-the-art
facilities in the area.
8
Rail Health and Safety Strategy Platform Train Interface Strategy
The Rail Health and Safety Strategy, which is currently under development,
focuses on the need for collaboration from the whole rail system to improve
levels of long-term health and safety on and around the railway. A number
of ongoing projects are part of the strategy and will help to both inform and
deliver on objectives.
One package of work has been delivering research on safety of level crossings.
Working to make level crossings safer
Signs and markings used at private level crossings have critical
impact on the user behaviour of those using the crossing.
Following a series of projects reviewing traffic signs at public road
crossings and causes of pedestrian accidents at level crossings
this research reviews and refines a range of new designs for signs
at private level crossings.
The designs have been developed using current human factors
best practice and will lead to an industry workshop, taking place
later this year, to discuss how the findings and recommendations
from all crossing projects will be taken forward. The aim will be to
agree a transition plan to implement new improved signs at all
level crossings - decreasing risk for all users.
Platform Train Interface Strategy
The industry Platform Train Interface (PTI) Strategy was launched
this year to tackle the most significant remaining source of passenger
fatality risk, and has initiated a programme of research investigating
areas for improvement.
Objective review confirms platform recess design
As part of the PTI strategy RSSB managed a research project to investigate and
demonstrate the critical role of both the size and shape of the recess space between train
and platform.
The project confirmed that an appropriately sized recess can play a critical role in reducing
harm if a person falls from a platform, and confirmed the adequacy of current standards.
This will enable future work at platforms to be optimised both for safety of passengers and
for the cost of platforms.
This information is being
used within the PTI strategy
implementation, and is also
programmed for inclusion in
the review of Railway Group
Standard GI/RT7016 ‘Interface
between Station Platforms,
Track and Trains’.
9
Knowledge Sharing Benefits
Collection and distribution of knowledge throughout the rail sector is integral
to continuous improvement and opportunities to develop the whole system
and innovate.
London Underground joins SPARK as the latest knowledge sharing partner
London Underground (LU) has joined SPARK, the industry’s knowledge sharing facility, as a knowledge sharing
partner. Under this new agreement, LU staff will receive enhanced access to SPARK, and LU research will be
available to other SPARK users.
LU recognises the benefits of collaborating through SPARK, commenting ‘…the opportunity for networking
and co-operation across the rail sector will be of huge benefit in reducing duplication of work and ideas and
increasing innovation’.
The agreement to share knowledge through SPARK was signed by LU’s John Downes and RSSB’s Colin Dennis.
SPARK is always looking for new partners and members to increase shared knowledge across the industry, for
more information email enquirydesk@rssb.co.uk.
Benefits
Effective safety management through smart use of data
Across the rail industry, data has the potential to improve the
effectiveness and efficiency of safety management. Research is
enhancing this capability. Examples of the benefits being realised
from research already completed include:
• Use of Safety Performance Indicators has allowed an
infrastructure contractor to operate using ‘right first time’
delivery principles, reducing costs and passenger disruption. Their
experience of using the findings of T953 Promoting the use of
Safety Performance Indicators is now Potential
availablebenefits
as a case
study
from
projects
with atoolkit.
clear implementation path
within the Measuring Safety Performance
• As a result of project, T994 Development of an incident factor
21
classification system module for SMIS, incident investigators
are now able to put greater focus on the underlying causes
of incidents and look in detail at what is needed to make
improvements which will make a real difference to
improving safety.
£440m
To find out more about any of the research projects
mentioned visit. www.sparkrail.org
10
Potential benefits of R&D completed in the last 12 months
Potential benefits from projects with a clear implementation path
19
£87m
Potential size of prize from
knowledge creation projects
Potential size of prize from knowledge creation projects
11
9
£165m
£545m
Number of projects completed
Size of potential benefits
11
Email enquirydesk@rssb.co.uk
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+44 (0) 20 3142 5300
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Webwww.rssb.co.uk
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