New collaboration to deliver fresh thinking for rail

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RSSB and TRL have agreed a strategic partnership that is set to share and combine research expertise in transport with their specific experience in the road and rail sectors.

Each organisation has a common vision to enhance the value of their services to RSSB members and TRL’s customers around the world.

The partnership has been established to enable the development and application of world class transport research, innovation and technology and will provide a joint platform to deliver better value and efficiencies.

“This partnership will build on a wealth of experience in rail and transport and will enable both organisations to develop and deliver new, cost-effective, solutions to a broader transport market, as well as the international rail industry,” commented Sue Sharland (Chief Executive of TRL).

“Complementary skills, innovative thinking and the ability to link in with evolving technologies mean that both organisations can work together to deliver new and real benefits to every aspect of rail operations, as well as a broader transport market.”

“There is the opportunity to unlock a great deal of potential within this unique combination,” says Len Porter (Chief Executive of RSSB). He added:

“We have identified how knowledge can be exchanged through RSSB’s technical and research experts and TRL’s Chief Scientist network. We are also working together to share thinking between different transport modes and deliver maximum value where these overlap.”

The primary focus of the partnership will be:

  • Providing broader and better access to transport, road and rail research and developing better integration of thinking to deliver real value solutions
  • Drawing together technical expertise on transport sustainability, climate change and energy issues with a focus on protecting and future-proofing critical transport networks
  • Exploring and securing new initiatives and funding streams at an international level (both in Europe and across other parts of the world).

All the above will involve both organisations working together to pool thinking, jointly exploiting Intellectual Property, software development and knowledge management with opportunities already being identified for the sharing of knowledge, resources and facilities.

Professor Neil Paulley who is Chief Scientist of the TRL Academy concludes that:

“The established TRL Academy is already working with RSSB knowledge experts and the potential for this partnership to create technical solutions that can deliver real step-change in transport network performance, cost savings for operators and efficiencies in delivery of innovative thinking is huge.”

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