Transport Research Laboratory

TRL was originally established in 1933 by the UK Government as the Road Research Laboratory (RRL) under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), and later became the Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL) in 1972.

During the Second World War, the Laboratory contributed to the war effort. Among its contributions, under William Glanville, were research that aided the development of plastic armour, the bouncing bomb and the Disney bomb.

During governmental reorganisation in the 1970s, the TRRL moved from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to the Department of the Environment (DoE).{{cite web|url=http://www.NationalArchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=18&CATLN=1&accessmethod=5&j=1|title=Department code AT|website=NationalArchives.gov.uk|publisher=National Archives}}

At the TRRL, Frank Blackmore developed the mini-roundabout and its associated 'priority rule', which was adopted in 1975.

With the encouragement of the UK Department of Transport, TRRL was instrumental in promoting cooperation with other European laboratories.{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/S0386-1112(14)60138-2|title=TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) – Creating the Future of Transport|journal=IATSS Research|volume=29|issue=2|pages=78–80|year=2005|last1=Kimber|first1=Rod|doi-access=free}} In 1989, TRRL's initiative to create a Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories led to its hosting of the inaugural meeting.

It became an executive agency of the UK Department for Transport (DfT) in 1992, and changed its name to the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL).

It was privatised in 1996, though earlier plans in 1994 for a proposed privatisation were criticised at the time,{{cite journal|url=http://www.ContractJournal.com/Articles/1994/03/24/30325/commons-select-committee-slams-trl-privatisation-plans.html|title=Commons Select Committee slams TRL privatisation plans|journal=Contract Journal|date=24 March 1994|access-date=2 May 2010|quote=Plans to privatise the Transport Research Laboratory have been criticised by the Commons Transport Select Committee. The MPs said they could not recommend privatisation of the TRL until there was 'much more convincing evidence that the laboratory's independence and expertise will not thereby be sacrificed'.}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} notably by former Transport Minister Barbara Castle.{{Cite web | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199596/ldhansrd/vo960111/text/60111-17.htm |title = Lords Hansard text for 11 Jan 1996 (160111-17)}}{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vBIdBQAAQBAJ&q=barbara+castle+trl+privatisation&pg=PA136 |title = Britain's Modernised Civil Service|isbn = 9781137086655|last1 = Burnham|first1 = June|last2 = Pyper|first2 = Robert|date = 18 February 2008}}

TRL is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire, with additional offices in Edinburgh and Birmingham.{{cite web|title=TRL International Offices|url=https://trl.co.uk/global-reach/uk|website=TRL.co.uk|publisher=TRL Limited|access-date=13 January 2020|date=13 January 2020}}

TRL's key areas of work include road, network and vehicle safety; traffic management; planning and control; investigations and risk management; transport infrastructure; and environmental assessment, including work on climate change, noise and air pollution.

TRL has produced industry-standard software including Junctions, TRANSYT, SCOOT 7 and [https://trlsoftware.com/products/traffic-control/urban-traffic-control/ UTC, Powered by SCOOT 7].

The extensive Crowthorne site has been substantially scaled back, with many of the original buildings disused, creating an opportunity for redevelopment. In 2012, Bracknell Council identified the original site as a strategic area, suitable for a new mini-town of 1,000 homes.{{cite web|title=Crowthorne Village Action Group|url=http://www.cvag.org.uk/dev_trl.html|website=CVAG.org.uk|access-date=18 August 2013|archive-date=28 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728022650/http://cvag.org.uk/dev_trl.html|url-status=dead}}

To maintain its commercial independence and impartiality, TRL is owned by the Transport Research Foundation (TRF),{{cite web|title=TRL - About Us - Transport Research Foundation|url=https://TRL.co.uk/about-us/transport-research-foundation|website=TRL.co.uk|publisher=TRL Limited|access-date=17 April 2017|date=3 February 2017}} a non-profit distributing foundation, overseen by 80 sector members from the transport industry. The TRF is classed as a non-profit distributing organisation (NPDO), a form of business structure where all profits are reinvested in services or business growth, rather than being distributed to shareholders. TRL's profits are invested in its own research programmes, selected by the TRF to enhance knowledge in critical areas such as safety, environmental impact and sustainable development.

{{Portal|Automobiles|Buses|Transport|Engineering|Technology|Roads|United Kingdom}}

• Vehicle Certification Agency
• Type approval
• United Kingdom driving test
• Zebra crossing
• MIRA Ltd.
• SHARP (helmet ratings)
• Slough experiment

{{Reflist}}

• [https://TRL.co.uk https://TRL.co.uk] — TRL Limited official website
• [https://trlsoftware.com TRL Software] — official outlet of TRL Limited
• [https://transport-links.org Transport-Links.org]{{subscription required|date=April 2017}} — contains many developing country RRL/TRRL/TRL documents, manuals, for free download

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Category:1933 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Government agencies established in 1933

Category:Transport research organizations

Category:Transport in the United Kingdom

Category:Engineering research institutes

Category:Laboratories in the United Kingdom

Category:Privatised executive agencies of the United Kingdom government

Category:Research institutes in Berkshire

Category:Wokingham

Category:Companies based in Berkshire

Category:Private companies limited by guarantee of the United Kingdom