RSSB. Boosting freight safety and growth
Moving freight forward: Safety, savings, and sustainable growth
How streamlined standards and collaboration are unlocking £15M in efficiencies.
A revised industry standard, RIS-3781-TOM Issue 2, is set to enhance safety, reduce delays, and unlock £15 million in savings for freight over the next 5 years. Streamlined requirements and improved collaboration are gearing up to drive progress in the sector.
In the dynamic landscape of rail freight, leadership demands a focus on both safety and operational excellence. The integrity of train preparation is non-negotiable; lapses can trigger incidents, disrupt schedules, and incur substantial costs. Recognising this, we’ve been closely collaborating with industry stakeholders to deliver a crucial update to the industry standard, RIS-3781-TOM, Issue 2. This isn't just a regulatory update—it's a strategic lever for enhanced safety and significant financial efficiencies.
Superceding the previous issue, this revision represents a significant leap forward in ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective freight operations. By embracing these updated standards, we, as leaders, can drive progress, unlock substantial savings, and reinforce our commitment to safety across the rail freight sector.
The updated standard introduces key strategic improvements:
Mandatory resource planning: Railway Undertakings are now mandated to conduct thorough time and resource assessments for train preparation, fostering greater accountability and meticulousness.
Certificate of readiness: The introduction of a formal Certificate of Readiness establishes a clear, documented validation of a train's safety, enhancing transparency and compliance.
Enhanced dangerous goods protocols: Comprehensive updates to the Dangerous Goods section, drawing upon established best practices, ensure clarity and consistency in handling hazardous materials.
Clear operational guidance: Detailed guidance on train preparation factors improves understanding and supports seamless collaboration.
As Tom Lee, RSSB’s Director of Standards, emphasises, ‘The safe and economic movement of freight is vital to the country. Learning from incidents and good practice we’ve worked with freight operators and other industry partners to drive improvements that will reduce delays and waste. The industry has agreed that this will lead to savings of at least £15m over the next five years, though probably much more.’
This standard is designed for freight operating companies, operators of freight terminals, and yards, and those who prepare engineering trains. It underscores the power of collaborative effort and shared expertise in driving industry-wide progress.
Strengthen your freight train preparation procedures:
Get a summary of the changes with the Briefing Note ❯
Download full standard ❯
