Support to cross-industry working groups and committees
RSSB provides support and facilitation for a wide range of cross-industry activities. This is usually achieved through RSSB’s support to cross-industry working groups and committees. This page provides information and links to a number of these groups and committees, which usually have a reporting line to the RSSB Board.
Governance and leadership groups – There are a broad range of cross-industry groups which have a degree of governance or leadership responsibility, where RSSB provides access to an evidence base for their decisions as well as the organisational and administrative support. These include the group which is responsible for governing RSSB itself, the RSSB Board. Such groups include those which have a high level decision-making responsibility such as the Industry Standards Co-ordination Committee (ISCC), Safety Policy Group and the Technical Strategy Leadership Group, as well as those which lead on specific schemes and assets like the Safety Management Information System (SMIS), RISAS (Railway Industry Supplier Approval Scheme) and CIRAS.
System Interface Committees - Recognising the importance of managing the interfaces between railway systems, the industry agreed to form System Interface Committees (SICs). The aim of these committees is to assist the railway industry to manage all aspects of identified system interfaces in the most efficient, safe and cost effective way. For a specific interface issue the SIC will determine solutions based on sound technical and economic evaluation and identify which is in the best interest of the industry as a whole.
National programmes – These cross-industry groups are focussed on a particular area of issues facing the railway and include Operations Focus Group, Community Safety groups, sustainable development and safety management systems . Like the SICs, these groups also act as client groups for research and development, as well as individual, specific initiatives.
Standards committees – The principle function of Standards Committees is to direct, prioritise and approve changes to Railway Group Standards and to approve deviations from the requirements of Railway Group Standards. Standards Committees also provide a forum where representatives of the GB industry can exchange information and views to inform their contributions, through the European sector organisations, in respect of European standards activities. They have a role in identifying National Technical Rules and National Safety Rules, and the GB Specific Cases that should be included in Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs).
Other groups – There are also a range of other ad-hoc working groups, often emerging out of existing groups in the areas outlined above, which exist to deal with short term issues or act as steering groups for specific projects.