Scope

The advisory group seeks to add value and promote best practice by:

  • influencing and initiating changes to the system(s)
  • providing input to the supplier and the system owner(s)
  • providing expertise and an expert forum for the system(s)
  • promoting consensus and enabling rapid communication/consultation, thereby reducing lead times for changes
  • appointing experts to a ‘list of experts’
  • nominating representatives to the advisory panel
  • facilitating improvements in data quality
  • determining training requirements and monitoring the training provided
  • organising and supporting initiatives to improve communications amongst users
  • improving system documentation.

The progress we're making

We’re making SMIS forms easier and quicker to use
Five simplified incident forms were successfully deployed on 21 June 2022, making it quicker and easier for RSSB members to report incidents into SMIS. More information on these forms can be found here.

We’re equipping SMIS inputters to use the database
To coincide with the release of the latest incident forms, we have produced training videos and quizzes so that inputters can improve their knowledge of SMIS.

We’re holding helpful surgeries
The first SMIS surgery was held on 24 June 2022, providing attendees with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the database and raise any queries they have. Sign up to SMIS News to receive an invitation to the next surgery.

Read our 2021/22 Improving our capability report for more on how we are improving SMIS.

Track our progress on delivering the strategy. View one-page activity summaries.


Last updated: 28/02/2025

Membership

The group’s membership is made up of the following industry categories:

  • passenger train operators
  • freight and other non-passenger train operators
  • infrastructure managers and owners
  • suppliers and rolling stock manufacturers
  • RSSB.

The person who attends the user group should be able to implement and influence changes to SMIS input/data extraction processes. This could be the manager of a team of SMIS inputters, an experienced data analyst or the sole SMIS user within an organisation. This person will be the key contact used by RSSB to disseminate information and gain feedback on changes to SMIS. Ideally, only one person per organisation would attend.

Chair: Colin Clifton, SE Trains Limited
RSSB main representative: Marcus Dacre