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Safety body publishes annual report for 2004-05

Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) today published its annual report for the year 2004-05. The report highlights the performance and achievements during the company’s second year of operation. A year dominated by the government’s review of the rail industry; and the Office of Rail Regulation’s endorsement of the company’s activities.

Key areas of work for this year included:

• The facilitation of the industry’s first Strategic Safety Plan, following extensive stakeholder consultation.

• The publication of ‘How safe is safe enough?’- the result of fundamental work on safety decision making and the factors the industry must consider to make consistent and safe decisions.

• The continued management of a programme of research and development on behalf of the industry and consequent confirmation of funding from the Department for Transport to 31 March 2007.

• Publication of 10 rail industry formal inquiry reports.

• Setting up six System Interface Committees to identify the best ‘system’ solutions for Britain’s railway.

• Management of nine cross industry national initiatives groups.

• Implementation of a new industry strategy for standards, aligning the domestic regime with emerging European Union (EU) requirements.

• Co-ordination of industry input to the European agenda, shaping the path towards interoperability and emerging EU safety requirements.

RSSB’s Chairman, Lord Tunnicliffe said ‘ We could not fulfil our role without the ongoing support of our membership which continues to grow. The way Members support us and take part in our activities contributes greatly to effective safety management across the industry.’

Notes to Editors:
A full copy of the annual report can be found on the Rail Safety and Standards Board website

1. Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) was established in April 2003 as an independent, not for profit organisation tasked with improving safety performance across the national rail network. The company is owned by the railway industry, is limited by guarantee and has a board and an advisory committee. It is independent of any single railway company and their commercial interests.

2. The RSSB annual report covers the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005.