RSSB has made revisions to the Rule Book, including the first steps to reduce the dependency on detonators. Our analysis of the historic practice of detonator use has concluded that, in the modern railway, the risk to staff when using them is often greater than the risk they controlled.
Tom says removing the need for detonators is a complex issue and that it will take time to work through all the applications with detonators. But, in conjunction with trials with Network Rail, we expect to remove all detonator use within the next two years.
Tom Lee, RSSB's Director of Standards, discusses the first steps being taken to reduce the dependency on detonators and other rail standards news.