RSSB2624 - T1122 Research into Air Quality in Enclosed Stations- Supplier Day 18th July

RSSB is holding a Supplier Day on Tuesday 18th July at 10.30 - 12 here at RSSB's London Offices.

If you would like to attend please email [email protected] by Monday 17th July Mid Day confirming your attendance.

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The Draft research specification which follows outlines RSSB's proposed research into Air Quality in Enclosed stations. The purpose of the pre-ITT suppliers' meeting to be held on Tuesday 18th July at 10.30 here at the RSSB offices in London. • Provide an outline of project proposals • Validate estimates of the likely research costs per station • Discuss the merits of station selection based on a long list Suppliers should be prepared to discuss the following: • There is a budget of up to £180,000, how many stations could this funding reasonably cover for a comprehensive measurement of air quality along the lines set out in the research specification? • From the long list of stations shown in the research specification indicate which stations the supplier considers should be selected for study and why. • Any particular factors that might impact on the phasing of the project, timescales of delivery over multiple stations and likely overall timelines.

The adverse effects of pollution have been an increasingly important topic in the UK, and the subject of European and UK legislation. Dangerous fumes are the result of diesel combustion from trains, goods vehicles and cars. Most non-electric trains are powered by diesel, causing significant levels of diesel fumes within enclosed areas such as stations. The results of diesel combustion are a combination of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and various nitrous oxides (NOx). These NOx particulates are of particular interest to this project, as this is an area where measurement techniques are less established and their dispersion is least understood. The people most affected, will be rail staff and others working at stations, including train drivers, rather than passengers and other members of the public. This is because of the length of time the different groups spend at stations. However, good occupational and public health are both important considerations. It is not well understood what level of contribution the railways are making to NOx levels, and further whether there is a specific issue with how these accumulate and disperse in enclosed areas, such as some (but not all) rail stations. Currently the assumption is that NOx particulates disperse in a similar way as CO2; however, there is evidence that this assumption may well be flawed. This project aims to look at air quality levels in enclosed, and / or terminal stations and create a model for pollution dispersion. This includes combustible particulates that result from diesel train emissions as well as non-combustible particulates that result from vehicle-track and vehicle-power transmission interactions .