Research project

T2F: Track to the future – economic and environmental modelling

Project overview

This programme grant followed on from the Track21 project (2011-2015) and involved addressing additional research questions with the aim of delivering improved railway infrastructure performance, as well as further research based on some of the key outputs from Track21.

As train frequencies and  speeds continue to increase over time, railway track is being more intensively used, which leads, in turn, to increased maintenance requirements. Combined with the urgent need to reduce the railway system’s costs and environmental impacts, this places great pressure on railway infrastructure operators. Alongside this, it will also be necessary to mitigate the impacts of climate change on railway track systems, with coastal railways potentially particularly vulnerable in this regard.

In order to help the rail industry tackle these challenges relating to track maintenance and performance, T2F addressed three key research challenges:

  • develop low maintenance and long-life track systems with optimised use of materials
  • design crossings and transitions so as to optimise vehicle behaviour and consequently maximise the service life of trains
  • develop an integrated approach to the design of low-noise and low-vibration track.

TRG’s contribution to the project involved the calculation of the economic and environmental impacts of such interventions. This involved working in partnership with Network Rail (with whom the University of Southampton has a Strategic Partnership), and with other T2F researchers at the universities of Southampton, Birmingham, Nottingham and Huddersfield.

Work focused on life cycle cost and carbon modelling of the installation of under-sleeper pads and the use of fibre-reinforced ballast and on comparing ballasted and non-ballasted track systems. 

Transportation group also developed (in partnership with the Institute for Sound and Vibration Research) a more accurate and spatially detailed socio-economic assessment of changes in noise and vibration from railway track systems using GIS to combine and process a range of datasets. A framework for a generalised socio-economic assessment methodology for track system interventions based on data ontologies was developed in conjunction with researchers at the University of Birmingham. 

Staff

Lead researchers

Professor William Powrie

Professor of Geotechnical Engineering

Research interests

  • Railway track and trackbed behaviour and performance
  • Geotechnical transportation infrastructure (earthworks, retaining walls, tunnels)
  • Groundwater and groundwater control
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Other researchers

Professor David Thompson MA PhD CEng FIMechE FIOA FHEA

Professor of Railway Noise and Vibration

Research interests

  • Low noise design in railways
  • Ground vibration and ground-borne noise
  • Aerodynamic noise from high-speed trains
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Professor Simon Blainey PhD, FRGS, FHEA, MCIHT, CMILT

Professor of Sustainable Transport

Research interests

  • Rail demand and operations modelling
  • GIS and transport
  • Transport decision support systems
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Professor John Preston

Professor in Rail Transport

Research interests

  • Demand, capacity and cost modelling for sustainable transport infrastructure.
  • The design, monitoring and evaluation of transport interventions designed to promote sustainable choices.
  • The determination of pathways for future mobility transitions to net zero carbon.
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Collaborating research institutes, centres and groups

Research outputs