The second RSSA summer visit will be to the Centre of Excellence for High Speed Rail Research at Heriot-Watt University (Riccarton Campus) and will be at 3.30pm on Friday 24th June. The visit will last for about an hour and a half.

The work of the unit is to investigate the main issues for modern rail networks, which include the need to cope with more traffic, heavier loads and higher speeds, and to progress railway track research beyond high speed into the realm of ultra high speed. The Director of the unit is Professor Peter Woodward, Atkins Professor of High Speed Railway Engineering, a world expert on this subject

Professor Woodward’s particular expertise is on what he describes as “the area below the track”. This is of particular interest for HS2 because if trains are to be run at 240mph, as proposed, this will have significant implications for the “foundations” of the track for it to withstand the forces set up by trains at such speeds - especially in light of the geology of the intended route. Peter Woodward will give an introductory talk about his research activities and then there will be an opportunity to see the unit’s full size test rig.

If you would like to attend this visit, please let Peter Jones <excursions2016@rssa.org.uk> know as soon as possible and by Wednesday 22nd June at the very latest. Peter will provide further details of parking facilities and where to meet for the event.