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Work with us

If you want to research or develop a new project, solve a difficult problem, or seek funding to get an idea off the ground, we can support you with specialist expertise.

2RG provides opportunities for innovation, collaborative research, and development, and we offer world-leading knowledge, facilities, expertise, and technologies.

Our academics can apply their broad research portfolio to your commercial and industrial settings, delivering vital knowledge and experience to enhance project and solve problems.

Collaborate

Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We work alongside forward-thinking external partners to pioneer impactful and innovative research and development projects, targeting the technologies of the future by applying our skills and methodologies.

We engage in collaborative research and development projects funded by schemes including:

  • UKRI, including Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Industrial Case Awards
  • Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund
  • Global Challenge Research Fund
  • Innovate UK Funding Competitions and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

Consultancy

2RG can arrange a consultancy or a contract research programme with you, applying our specialist knowledge over flexible terms, from short-term to multi-year projects, dependent on your needs. We scope these jointly with everyone involved and can include access to our equipment and specialist software. We can also explore student summer internships or projects to give you a faster and more cost-effective delivery.

To discuss collaboration and consultancy opportunities, email Nick Fletcher at N.Fletcher@leeds.ac.uk.

Learn from our academics

2RG offers a variety of academic services to the rail sector, including opportunities for businesses to engage with academic experts through workshops, guest talks, consultancy, collaborative research, and one-to-one support on technical and strategic challenges.

Our collaborative work

The Rail Research Group has supported high-profile research and industry-funded projects, including: 

  • Flexible Energy Railway Hub: £8.2m Ofgem SIF-funded project developing innovative energy solutions to support rail decarbonisation, in partnership with Network Rail and industry leaders.
  • Pantograph performance: Industry-funded investigation into dewirement and pantograph issues across the rail network, working with partners including Network Rail, Hitachi, and LNER.
  • Track buckling detection: One of six winning solutions in a Network Rail innovation challenge, developing remote monitoring technologies to improve railway safety.
  • Cast crossings management: Long-term collaboration with Network Rail, now in its third phase, supporting the monitoring and management of high-speed cast crossings.
  • European research collaborations: Active contributor to major EU-funded initiatives, including IN2ZONE and X-Cross, advancing innovation across the rail sector.
  • Tunnel corrosion assessment: Specialist consultancy project investigating rail infrastructure degradation within Huddersfield South Tunnel to inform maintenance decisions.