The University of Huddersfield and DB Cargo UK have agreed to collaborate on research to improve the efficiency of freight wagon and locomotive maintenance.

By collaborating with the university, DB Cargo UK will take advantage of the University’s R&D capabilities in rail to advance the industrial application of fundamental research and innovation.

The first stage of collaboration will see the Institute of Railway Research (IRR) join with DB Cargo UK to deliver a pipeline of innovation for the rail freight industry. That will be supported by the IRR’s latest project, the Smart Rolling Stock Maintenance Research Facility (SRSMRF), which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The IRR is based within the School of Computing and Engineering.

Working with the SRSMRF’s Research Fellows and a range of industry partners across the rail supply chain, the project will carry out research to improve the efficiency of freight wagon and locomotive maintenance.

The collaboration was established by Professor Paul Allen of the University of Huddersfield, and Marie Hill, DB Cargo UK’s Chief Transformation and Digitalisation Officer.

Professor Allen says: “DB Cargo UK has made an enormous investment in the future of the UK’s freight railways and we are delighted to be collaborating with it in bringing the world-class expertise of IRR to support this mission.”

Professor Gareth Tucker, SRSMRF Principal Investigator, says: “We are looking forward to working with DB Cargo to identify methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of wagon and locomotive maintenance using our facilities and expertise in robotics and automation, remote condition monitoring and operations management”.
Marie Hill says: “We are proud to be deepening our relationship with the University of Huddersfield, which since the launch of UKRRIN (UK Rail Research Innovation Network) has gone from strength to strength”

Professor Allen says: “This collaboration is the beginning of a long-term alliance with DB Cargo UK, strengthening the connections between academia and industry and producing products and services that will be of real benefit to the industry as a whole.”

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