Universities join forces to reduce rail travel disruption in hot weather

Description

The Universities of Huddersfield and Southampton have joined forces under the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) to support changes in Network Rail’s hot weather policies. The resulting work will mean a significant reduction in travel disruption for rail passengers when temperatures soar.

Subject

Paul Molyneux-Berry, Principal Industrial Fellow at the University of Huddersfield’s Institute of Railway Research (IRR), explained the work carried out. “We have analysed 30 years of data to characterise the buckling risk of different track types and developed a simple measure of the severity of a track buckle. Vehicle dynamic simulations of many train types and buckle geometries were then carried out to determine safe speeds in hot weather.”

Professor Paul Allen, Director of the IRR and lead for the UKRRIN Centre of Excellence in Rolling Stock commented: ““This project is a fantastic example of how the UK’s leading railway research universities can work together as part of the UKRRIN network, making a real difference to our railways. The work forms one of many impactful projects UKRRIN partner universities have delivered since its inception in 2018.”