New guidance on safe movement of trains

HSE Press Release: E014-04 - 2 February 2004

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a new volume of its Railway Safety Principles and Guidance (RSPG) series. The guidance was developed by industry experts and will help in the development of safety cases and railway standards. It is aimed mainly at those responsible for safe train movements, particularly those working for infrastructure controllers, and train and station operators.

'Safe movement of trains' sets out essential principles and guidance regarding operational aspects of rail safety. It deals specifically with the risks affecting the movement of trains, such as collisions between trains or with obstructions on the line. It also includes guidance on the wider aspects of the carriage of dangerous goods by rail and on the operational aspects of evacuation and escape from trains in an emergency.

Dr Allan Sefton, HSE's Director of Rail Safety said: "This guidance will help develop operational rules and standards and aid the training of personnel in safe railway operations. It will also be of value to those assembling evidence for railway safety cases on how train operations will be safely managed."

Copies of 'Safe movement of trains' (Railway Safety Principles and Guidance Part 3 Section B), ISBN 0 7176 2727 6, HSG242, price £12.95 can be ordered online at http://books.hse.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

1. Effective operational procedures and arrangements are essential to the safe management of railways. The Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 specifically require duty holders to demonstrate that they have adequate operational arrangements to ensure the safety of their railway undertakings.

2. HSE has produced a series of publications addressing the core principles for the approval of new works, plant and equipment. These are the Railway Safety Principles and Guidance (RSPG) Parts 1 and 2, published in 1996 and are concerned with a wide range of technical railway subjects. However, it became apparent that guidance was needed in other areas such as competence, management and operations. RSPG was expanded into a third part, with the first volume of Part 3, 'Developing and maintaining staff competence' published in 2002 (see press release E057-02, 20 March 2002).

3. 'Safe movement of trains' is the second volume of RSPG Part 3. As with the other documents in the RSPG series, it establishes high-level principles, which are set out as objectives to be achieved. Each principle is accompanied by an overview and factors to consider to achieve the principle. These represent non-prescriptive guidance and good practice, with notes provided to explain exceptions and interpretations.

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