The Institute of Railway Research celebrates ten years at the University...

…and Professor Paul Allen takes over from Professor Simon Iwnicki as IRR Director

The Institute of Railway Research at the University of Huddersfield celebrated its tenth birthday on 01 July.

The IRR was set up in 2012 when Professor Simon Iwnicki and a group of his colleagues moved to Huddersfield from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Since its founding the IRR has carried out world class railway research and worked closely with industry to ensure that the innovations developed have an impact on the safety and performance of the Railway in the UK and overseas.

As part of UKRRIN (the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network) the IRR hosts the Centre of Excellence in Rolling Stock.

The IRR has also developed world-leading test facilities including HAROLD: a full size bogie rolling test rig, THOMoS: A passenger environment test platform and PANTHER: A high speed pantograph test rig. A new laboratory was also recently commissioned to explore the application of robotics to railway maintenance as part of th IRR’s Smart Rolling Stock Maintenance Research Facility (SRSMRF).

The Institute's innovative work was recognised in 2019 with the award of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize 'for research and development that has brought significant improvements to the railway industry'.

The anniversary date also marked another key moment for the Institute as Professor Paul Allen formally took over from Professor Iwnicki as the Institute’s second Director. Professor Allen was one of the original members of the IRR and has over twenty years of experience as a leading railway researcher and industrial consultant.

As a technical expert, his specialist field is railway vehicle dynamics and wheel-rail interface engineering. He has led a wide range of research and consultancy projects for many clients and collaborators in the UK and internationally, that include wheel-rail interface engineering, vehicle dynamics, train brake system development and has been working closely with innovative rail businesses to bring new technologies to the sector.