Ensuring the safety of railway systems goes beyond any one operator or network. It involves collaborating to create a positive culture that benefits passengers, workers and communities.
While catastrophic rail accidents are rare, the devastating impact they have underscores the critical importance of safety and the management of human factors in mitigating risks.
On 5 October 1999, the UK experienced one of its most deadly rail incidents in recent history, the Ladbroke Grove rail crash; two passenger trains collided almost head-on after one of them had passed a signal at danger, killing 31 people and leaving 417 injured.
Ladbroke Grove was one of a succession of bad train crashes in the UK, and following the incident, a public inquiry was held in 2000 to establish the causes of collision and look at the management and regulation of UK railway safety.
The inquiry, led by Lord Cullen, found that the industry lacked overarching safety standards and called for major change. At its core, this program of change centred on improving safety culture.
To achieve this, Lord Cullen also recommended the establishment of a new independent safety body. As such, in 2003, the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) was formed.
Shaping rail standards
For more than 20 years, RSSB has worked behind the scenes to keep the rail industry moving safely, developing standards that allow a diverse network to function as a single system.
In addition to developing and sharing standards, RSSB has led cross-industry strategies, like Leading Health and Safety on Britain’s Railways and the Sustainable Rail Blueprint, as well as cross-industry working groups and committees on subjects from mental wellbeing to driver advisory systems.
The organisation’s research has enabled existing and new vehicles to operate at different speeds on the same track, optimising journey times and maximising route capacity.
By leading and coordinating research, expertise, standards and analysis, the organisation has advanced rail safety knowledge and helped make Britain’s rail network one of the safest in the world.
Since the Ladbroke Grove rail crash in 1999, there has not been a rail incident in the UK that has resulted in such a high number of fatalities.
RSSB’s specialists continue to work to address the complex safety challenges faced by rail operators, infrastructure partners and suppliers, not just in the UK but internationally.
Expert support beyond borders
In the last few years, RSSB has expanded its presence in Australia, offering organisations involved or interested in rail access to consultancy and training services, as well as affiliate membership.
The organisation offers expert support on critical technical questions, covering areas such as risk reduction, operational safety and best practice, fatigue management and optimising human performance.
A recent project saw the organisation help the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia deliver a Ballast Depth and Sleeper Spacing Review. Currently, RSSB is providing the National Transport Commission with consultancy support on rail interoperability.
For more information, visit www.rssb.co.uk/international
Image: Photos by Febin/shutterstock.com
