An RSSB co-funded project is developing a ready-for-line-test trailing arm bush device that could reduce damage to rails and wheelsets and significantly reduce whole system costs.

Network Rail has been working on a mapping tool that enables asset vulnerability heat maps for use in risk assessment and quantification and investment prioritisation.

Learning from past project to identify opportunities to improve successful deployment while decreasing the time and efforts put into testing, including the use of digital twins in testing.

Network Rail programme providing an effective workflow management system for drainage assets, linking existing and new systems for decision support tools and models to allow for more informed decision making.

European project, involving Network Rail and UK universities, that delivered a design for the freight vehicle of the future with reduced energy consumption and track damage. Included a combined wheel-slide and brake control system, allowing for speeds up to 140 km/h.

SET, University of Huddersfield and RSSB project demonstrating the feasibility of independent, actively controlled in-wheel traction motors for optimised steering, guidance, traction and braking giving a longer-life and more cost-effective wheel/ rail interface.

Project led by Brunel University aiming to investigate the design of future passenger trains in order to apply robotic and autonomous servicing solutions.

Lucchini and Unipart Rail project aiming to develop a remanufacturing cell for rail wheels, including in-process and post-production inspection to ensure accuracy and integrity of the wheels.

Network Rail R&D programme aligned with the Rail Sector Deal, looking at addressing the sustainability of future signalling systems on the GB network. It aims to provide the capability to enable safe, affordable and deliverable signalling to meet future demands.

Network Rail project automating the collection of accurate data on all structurally significant defects on tunnel lining. Aiming to replace detailed tunnel examinations on primary routes and investigate sub-system inspection options.

Fugro, in collaboration with Network Rail, are using an innovative, cost-effective and safe survey methodology for maintaining positional track geometry (adjusting both rails to the required optimum alignment) even for non high-speed rail lines.

The ATLAS (Automated Track & Lineside Asset Survey) platform will be used to create an end-to-end automated pipeline for infrastructure asset identification, classification and inspection to be integrated into Network Rail’s asset database.