{{Short description|British consultancy company}} {{Use British English|date=April 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{more citations needed|date=April 2017}} {{Coord|51.3818|-0.7823|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title|format=dms}} {{Infobox company |name = TRL Limited<ref name=TRL-privacy>{{cite web|title=TRL Privacy Policy|url=https://TRL.co.uk/privacy-policy|website=TRL.co.uk|publisher=TRL Limited|access-date=17 April 2017|date=16 May 2016}}</ref> |logo = TRL logo.png |logo_size = 200px |image = |image_size = |image_alt = |image_caption = |trade_name = TRL |type = Private company limited by guarantee<ref name=TRL-who/> |fate = |predecessors = {{ubl|Road Research Laboratory (RRL)|Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)<ref name=TRL-history>{{cite web |url=http://www.trl.co.uk/about-us/our-history |title=TRL - Our History |access-date=2015-03-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825085249/http://www.trl.co.uk/about-us/our-history |archive-date=25 August 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>}} |successor = |foundation = {{Start date and age|1933}}, in Harmondsworth, West Drayton, Greater London<ref name=TRL-who/><ref name=TRL-history/> |founder = |defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> |location = Wokingham, Berkshire |num_locations = |area_served = Worldwide |key_people = Paul Campion <small>(Chief Executive Officer)</small><ref name=CEO>{{cite web|url=https://trl.co.uk/news/news/trl-announces-new-chief-executive-appointment|title=TRL announces new CEO appointment|website=TRL.co.uk|date=30 May 2019|access-date=13 January 2020|publisher=TRL Limited}}</ref> |industry = Automotive transport, roads, engineering, insurance, urban environment, rail travel, motorsport<ref name=TRL-who/> |products = Various transport related items, including software, legform impactors, safety certification rigs |services = Engineering, research, consultancy, certification, software development |revenue = |operating_income = |net_income = |assets = |equity = |owner = Transport Research Foundation<ref name=TRL-who/><ref name=TRL-TRF/> |num_employees = approx. 320<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trl.co.uk/homepage/about_trl/our_business.htm|title=Our Business|website=TRL.co.uk|access-date=10 July 2012|publisher=TRL Limited|archive-date=23 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723041915/http://trl.co.uk/homepage/about_trl/our_business.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> |parent = |divisions = |subsid = {{ubl|TRL Academy|TRL Software}} |homepage = {{Official URL}} |footnotes = <!--as of 2q 2017--> }} '''TRL Limited''', trading as '''TRL''' (formerly '''Transport Research Laboratory''') is an independent private company offering a transport consultancy and research service to the public and private sector.<ref name=TRL-who>{{cite web|title=TRL - About Us - who we are|url=https://TRL.co.uk/about-us/who-we-are|website=TRL.co.uk|publisher=TRL Limited|access-date=17 April 2017|date=11 October 2016}}</ref> Originally established in 1933 by the UK Government as the '''Road Research Laboratory''' ('''RRL'''), it was privatised in 1996.<ref name=TRL-who/> Its motto or tagline is 'The Future of Transport'.<ref name=TRL-who/>
==History== 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''')<ref name=TRL-who/> in 1972.<ref name=TRL-history/>
During the Second World War, the Laboratory contributed to the war effort.<ref name=TRL-history/> Among its contributions, under William Glanville, were research that aided the development of plastic armour, the bouncing bomb<ref name=TRL-history/> 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).<ref>{{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}}</ref>
At the TRRL, Frank Blackmore developed the mini-roundabout and its associated 'priority rule',<ref name=TRL-history/> which was adopted in 1975.
With the encouragement of the UK Department of Transport, TRRL was instrumental in promoting cooperation with other European laboratories.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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).<ref name=TRL-history/>
It was privatised in 1996,<ref name=TRL-who/><ref name=TRL-history/> though earlier plans in 1994 for a proposed privatisation were criticised at the time,<ref>{{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 }}</ref> notably by former Transport Minister Barbara Castle.<ref>{{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)}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
==Operations== TRL is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire, with additional offices in Edinburgh and Birmingham.<ref name=TRL-who/><ref name=TRL-int>{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref name=TRL-who/>
===Software=== 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].
==Site redevelopment== 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==Corporate affairs== To maintain its commercial independence and impartiality, TRL is owned by the Transport Research Foundation (TRF),<ref name=TRL-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}}</ref> a non-profit distributing foundation,<ref name=TRL-who/> 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.<ref name=TRL-who/><ref name=TRL-TRF/> 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.<ref name=TRL-who/><ref name=TRL-TRF/>
==See also== {{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
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website}}
{{Department for Transport (United Kingdom)}} {{Automotive industry in the United Kingdom}}
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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