PhD Studentship: Railway Network Resilience Modelling (ENG299)

Supervised by: Rasa Remenyte-Prescott (Faculty of Engineering, Resilience Engineering Research Group)

Aim: Develop a comprehensive railway network delay propagation model capable of addressing a wide range of disruptions and response strategies

Background

The railway network in the United Kingdom is both complex and extensive. In 2024, it recorded approximately 1.7 billion passenger journeys, equating to around 4.8 million train movements per day—a 9% increase on the previous year. This growth highlights the critical role of rail in national mobility and the mounting pressure on infrastructure and operations. Despite carefully designed and monitored timetables, disruptions occur unexpectedly, often triggered by infrastructure failures, human error, or external factors. Given the high level of network congestion, a single incident can propagate delays widely across the system. Timely and effective intervention is therefore essential to mitigate reactionary delay and maintain network resilience.

Proposed project

This 3.5-year PhD project aims to develop a comprehensive railway network delay propagation model capable of addressing a wide range of disruptions and response strategies. The project will produce robust modelling frameworks and analytical techniques to support operational decision-making and maintain required network performance. A key focus will be on modelling the effects of disruptions and the spread of delays, which will underpin a proposed multi-objective optimisation approach for enhancing resilience and efficiency.

Benefits of joining this project:

This project will give an opportunity for the student to explore the area of railway system modelling in collaboration with an industrial partner. The student will not only gain valuable experience and insights on railway network management but also will liaise with an industrial partner to develop impactful research outcomes for digital railway. 

Summary: The proposed funding will cover UK / Home PhD tuition fees, plus a tax-free stipend for 3.5 years, starting at £22,000 pa. A travel and consumables allowance will also be available. 

Entry Requirements: Starting October 2026, we require an enthusiastic graduate with a 1st class degree in engineering, maths or a relevant discipline, preferably at Masters level (in exceptional circumstances a 2:1 degree can be considered).

To apply visit: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/apply/apply-online.aspx 

For any enquiries about the project and the funding please email Rasa Remenyte-Prescott (r.remenyte-prescott@nottingham.ac.uk) 

This studentship is open until filled. Early application is strongly encouraged.

Closing Date: 12 Mar 2026
Category: Studentships