Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) services

To be sustainable, transport infrastructure needs to address the global challenges of climate change, carbon reduction and energy use whilst being both resilient and safe. To achieve this, it needs to be built and maintained to long-life and sustainable construction principles, embrace appropriate developments in technology and be adaptable to future needs

TRL has long been involved in the design of new road and airfield pavements, and their maintenance. On the basis of TRL research, the UK was the first country in the world to incorporate long-life or threshold designs for both new pavements and the rehabilitation of existing ones.

TRL’s ground engineering expertise encompasses geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, engineering geomorphology, geoenvironmental engineering, and waste and resource management.

TRL’s understanding of providing community access through developing locally sustainable maintenance practices for low volume roads is second to none. Our experience has been gained over sixty years working in developing countries on projects funded by Department for International Development, World Bank, EU, Asian Development Bank and other bilateral aid agencies.

Rail infrastructure, encompassing track, structures, earthworks and buildings, needs to provide increasing capacity and improved resilience, while reducing costs in future control periods. The Rail Technology Strategy includes designing in tolerance for natural hazards and unforeseen occurrences, and modernising asset inspection, assessment and maintenance in its vision for future railway infrastructure.

TRL has a range of test facilities that are extensively used to provide investigations and structural assessment of a diverse range of products and construction materials. The independent assessment we provide supports the development of new products by private sector clients, from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to major manufacturers.