Improving safety on the platform

The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has launched an updated tool for identifying potential safety risks and assessing the effectiveness of safety management arrangements around the Platform Train Interface (PTI). The PTI is where trains and platforms meet, and people alight or disembark from trains. It plays a critical role in ensuring safe journeys for millions of passengers.

However, it can also present significant risks if not adequately managed. That's why train operators, infrastructure managers, and the industry regulator identified a need for an integrated approach to risk management. They  initially approached RSSB to develop the PTI Risk Assessment Tool (PTIRAT) over six years ago.

The PTIRAT is designed to identify potential safety risks and assess the effectiveness of safety management arrangements around the PTI. To better meet the needs of users, the tool has been recently enhanced and now features: 

• A new user-friendly interface.
• The ability to assign actions and record recommendations, streamlining the risk management process.
• An updated suite of customisable questions allowing for more tailored assessments that can address specific requirements at each station. 
• Users can now benchmark stations, highlighting comparative strengths and weaknesses across different sites. This is especially useful for train operating companies that want to compare their safety arrangements across different stations and routes or at locations where they are not the lead operator.
• The ability to upload supporting documents for a risk assessment, such as photographs, train dispatch method statements, or aerodynamic risk assessments. This helps document specific risks, or where the required controls are best illustrated with images, Uploading supporting documents for a risk assessment also keeps it all in the same place for easy access. 

RSSB’s Principal Strategy Implementation Manager, Tony Ellis, said: 

“Our newly enhanced PTI Risk Assessment Tool will ensure the rail industry takes a consistent approach in identifying and quantifying risks at the platform train interface – which is one of the highest safety risks areas on the railway.

“The tools new features and functionality were developed following dedicated workshops, and extensive feedback and input from RSSB’s members, to ensure it better meets their needs in managing operational safety risks, protects their passengers and employees whilst being confident that they are using a methodology compliant with the associated Rail Industry Standard (RIS-3703).” 

ORR’s Chief Inspector of Railways and Director of Railway Safety, Ian Prosser CBE said: 

“The Platform Train Interface remains one of the biggest risks for passenger harm and we’re pleased to see this upgraded tool to help better identify and mitigate risks. 

“The PTI Risk Assessment Tool is a great example of collaboration and it is important that we continue to work together to ensure effective use across the railway.”

Editors’ notes

1. The Rail Safety and Standards Board is the independent safety, standards, and research body for Great Britain’s rail network. We help to make an evolving railway safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.
2. We work collaboratively with an evolving industry to ensure that innovative and sustainable technology is operated safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. We codify and share best practice, both in Britain and abroad. We are proudly impartial, and home to some of rail’s leading experts on technical matters. Guided by facts and analysis, we help to bridge knowledge gaps, optimise use of the latest technology, and disseminate and systemise industry best practice.
3. https://www.rssb.co.uk
4. Further information about the PTI Risk Assessment Tool is available at: https://www.rssb.co.uk/pti-tool.