The shape of things to come

Twenty years of safer railways

We’ve worked collaboratively with the industry to make Britain’s railway safer, more sustainable and more efficient since 2003. Our members and affiliates span every aspect of rail – from train operators and infrastructure owners, to manufacturers and international research bodies. Today, Britain enjoys one of the safest rail systems in the world; everyone who works at RSSB is rightly proud of our part in that. 

Over the past two decades, the railway has seen its fair share of changes – especially in the last few years. Some, like the pandemic, have been out of our control. But others have been the result of positive, intentional endeavour. For instance, the industry is making great strides in areas that include: sustainability and decarbonisation; quantifying our social value; efficiently embedding new technology; ensuring health and wellbeing, and many more. 

RSSB is heavily involved in this effort. We’ve contributed to initiatives as diverse as carbon reduction, air quality measurement, adhesion research and safe decision making (and many more). 

We continue to create and maintain the Rule Book, used daily across every part of the railway. 

And we’re heavily involved in creating and supporting the standards and safety processes that will continue to make rail a safe, dynamic and indispensable part of Great Britain’s transport infrastructure. 

Supporting the future requirements of GB rail

In 2023 we celebrate our 20th anniversary. Next year and beyond the industry will evolve further, and even more positively – and we will continue to play our part as we develop the way we function and influence the industry. 

Running Britain’s railway – one of the busiest in the world – requires an exceptional array of skills and processes, co-ordinated across thousands of organisations. RSSB is the only organisation with the whole-industry viewpoint necessary to oversee and understand such a complex array. We have assembled this perspective over many years of co-operation, collaboration and technical investigation. 

To meet the industry’s goals of safety, efficiency and sustainability, we plan to put more effort than ever into researching and developing new technical solutions. This will help rail rise to the challenges of running a transport system and meeting the ever-evolving transport needs of a nation. 

Change is the new constant

As the industry reorganises, the Rail Safety and Standards Board is ready to underpin change with continuity. Our experience in collaborating with operators and innovators, co-ordinating research and development, and codifying the industry’s technical knowledge will be crucial for the rail industry and its users. 

For clarity, we have returned to using our full name: the Rail Safety and Standards Board. Our logo, now represent an aerial perspective of the railway, symbolises the collaboration and co-operation brought to the fore as the industry comes together to move forward.