New signs and revised standards will improve safety and save the industry £41 million

New signage and revised industry standards are expected to improve safety, decrease the need for drivers to multitask, and reduce delays. They’re estimated to save industry in excess of £41 million over the next 5 years. This positive development highlights our commitment to both worker protection and economic efficiency.

This update will include new temporary speed signage for use at user-worked level crossings and at non-track-fault-related speed restrictions.

These changes will allow train drivers to accelerate when the front of the train reaches the start of a higher permissible speed. At the moment, they must wait for the whole train to pass that point. This change will let drivers to focus on what’s in front of them rather than worrying about the rear of the train. 

The updated standards and Rule Book revisions will be published in RSSB’s September standards update. These changes to the Rule Book will take effect from December 2024.