Background
In October 2018, RSSB launched a £1 million call for research feasibility studies to identify intelligent power solutions to decarbonise rail. Six projects were awarded funding to explore alternative traction options for both passenger trains and freight, and assess the infrastructure improvements that would be necessary to support these.
On this page you can find information about the competition and watch footage from the information and networking day.
For any questions, please email: researchcompetitions@rssb.co.uk
Information and networking day
October 2018
Registration, networking breakfast and poster exhibition
RSSB’s work on sustainability and decarbonisation
This session will give a brief overview of the sustainability work and initiatives that RSSB has been leading on behalf of the industry such as the Sustainability Principles and the Rail Carbon Tool. We will also give an update on the work that the Decarbonisation Task Force has championed, including the recent report to the Transport Minister in response to his call to eliminate all diesel-only trains by 2040.
Current landscape and ongoing innovation
Deploying Alstom’s Coradia iLint technology to decarbonise the UK

Hydroflex: the UK's first hydrogen train

Class 165 HyDrive: what's the future for hybrid trains?
The voice of the industry: challenges and opportunities
In this session, a selection of key industry stakeholders and 'challenge owners' will present their main priorities in the areas of decarbonisation and energy efficiency. The pitches will be followed by a panel discussion
Pitches from:







Coffee break, networking and poster exhibition
Case Studies and 'Eleavator Pitches
This session will be a whistle-stop tour of a few case studies highlighting energy efficiency and decarbonisation technologies that have been applied in sectors other than rail.
A selection of ‘elevator pitches’ will follow. Attendees will have strictly 1 minute each to showcase their relevant research expertise.
Case studies:
Riding Sunbeams

The exploitation of free piston engine technology to decarbonise transport
Innovative semi-conductor technology: use in other sectors and its potential for rail

G-volution technology
Elevator pitches from:
- Ben Nichols, University of Nottingham
- Will Midgley, Loughborough University
- William Holderbaum, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Nick Mallinson, University of Warwick
- Garfield Southall, University of Chester
- Jianing Li, University of Birmingham
- David Fletcher, University of Sheffield
- Rebeka Sellick, SellickRail Ltd
- Michael Healy, HaslerRail
- John Parry, Ultra Light Rail Partners
- Neil Tinworth, Unipart Rail Limited
- Andy Stephens, Perpetuum
- Andrew Stephinson, FTI Communication Systems
- Clive Brook, Clean Power Hydrogen
- Christopher Maltin, Global Gas Logistic Solutions
- Mark Hinnells, Ricardo
Lunch and ‘speed networking’ - Lunch served in the exhibition area
Unlocking the funding…
RSSB and KTN will outline the scope and the application process for the two funding competitions that are being launched today. A Q&A session will follow.
RSSB R&D collaboration competition

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) call

Networking exercise
The table moderators will be invited to stand to be identified by the attendees. Each moderator will lead a table discussion around one of the three competition challenges: (a) high speed (b) freight (c) infrastructure: energy storage/distribution. Please refer to the competition briefing (which will be made available on the day) for more details about each challenge. Attendees can choose which challenge they would like to discuss, and gather around one of the moderators; attendees are welcome to move around and join the discussion on other challenges.
Moderators for Challenge A - High speed:



Moderators for Challenge B - Freight:

Moderators for Challenge C - Infrastructure (energy storage/distribution):


Other funding opportunities
First of a Kind round 2

Keynote address from the Department for Transport

Next steps and closing remarks

Networking
Event Closes
Call for Research

Resources
MoreJoin the conversation on Twitter
Other R&I Competitions
Click here to find out more about other RSSB R&I Competitions.
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