Rail Research Group (2RG)
ACADEMIC CAPABILITIES
University of Leeds
Overview
The Rail Research Group (2RG) works in partnership with the rail industry sector to maximise the impact of internationally leading research. We are a member of UKRRIN and play a key role as part of the higher education sector’s work in rail research and innovation.
2RG is led by Professor Peter Woodward and Professor David Connolly, who bring academia together with a wide range of industrial partners to:
– Tackle current operational problems;
– De-risk delivery of future technologies;
– Assess the biggest challenges facing the rail industry; and
– Train the next generation of scientists and engineers.
The Group advocates a whole system approach, using the facilities and resources available across the University. We bring together academics from different disciplines to work collaboratively in areas such as:
– System integration and optimisation;
– Existing and future rail systems;
– Robotics and mechatronics;
– Internet of trains: digital railways; and
– Vehicle dynamics and tribology.
UKRRIN status
UKRRIN affiliate member
Centre of Excellence in Rail Economics Policy and Operations (CEREPO) Lead
Member of the Centre of Excellence in Infrastructure (CEI)
Rail Research Group (2RG) – Fact File (2026-27)
7 Research staff
19 PhD students
192 Masters students
67 Publications
Capability matrix
CAPABILITY
CAPABILITY LEVEL
Easy to use for all
Accurate, accessible and understandable real-time information
Smart fare collection
Accessible to all
Multi-modal integrated journeys
Reliable and fast on-board connectivity
Freight friendly
Increased network access for freight
Safer freight operations and better asset management
Enable greater intermodality and access for freight customers
Greater asset utilisation and reduced freight journey times
Low carbon freight and On Track machines
Low emissions
Efficient new electrificaiton
Zero carbon self-powered vehicles
Low carbon freight and On Track machines
Intelligent energy management
Cleaner air
Quieter railway
Lowering embodied carbon of key material
Optimised train operations
Infrastructure and train capabilities to overcome capacity constraints
Simpler and safer real-time operations and decisions
Improved recovery from incidents and disruptions
Reliable and flexible train planning
More affordable solutions for lower-use lines
Efficient and reliable - infrastructure
“Right-time” actionable insights on infrastructure conditions
Efficient, effective and safe infrastructure maintenance
Improved resilience of infrastructure to climate change and extreme weather events
Speed up and de-risk introduction of infrastructure assets
Proactive management of infrastructure obsolescence
Efficient and reliable - rolling stock
“Right-time” actionable insights on rolling stock conditions
Efficient, effective and safe rolling stock maintenance
Improved resilience of rolling stock to climate change and extreme weather events
Speed up and de-risk introduction of rolling stock assets
Proactive management of rolling stock obsolescence
Efficient and reliable - interfaces
Improved vehicle/track interaction
Improved pantograph/overhead line interaction
Improved utilisation of constrained space
Improved whole system resilience
Data driven
Advanced computing
Advanced data analytics techniques
Data governance and standardisation
Data integration
Effective innovation culture
System and network models
Pro-innovation legal and regulatory frameworks
Testing, homologation, cross acceptance
Technically talented workforce
Job design and human performance
Workforce development and training
Safety and health
Safety assessment and evaluation
Cyber security
Fitness for duty and health assessment
Competitiveness
Demand forecasting
Cost modelling
Social value
Research Group key contacts
Name: Nick Fletcher , Business Development Manager
Email: N.Fletcher@leeds.ac.uk
FIND OUT ABOUT
TESTING AND TRIALING FACILITIES
Facilities