Latest updates to standards

Two new standards have been published for Infrastructure, three have been updated, and one has been withdrawn.

RIS-7709-INS Issue 1 – Station Facilities

This new standard is part of RSSB’s suite of station design standards and is the first of its kind to define the minimum facilities to be provided at GB mainline railway stations.

RIS-7710-INS Issue 1 – Wayfinding and Tactile Navigation

This new standard sets out requirements and guidance for the design and provision of wayfinding and tactile navigation within stations on the GB mainline railway.

RIS-7700-INS Issue 4 – Station Infrastructure

This standard has been comprehensively updated to introduce new requirements, guidance, and rationale relating to automatic ticket gates, fire precautions, environmental sustainability, accessibility, station security, and the management of unauthorised access.

RIS-7702-INS Issue 2 – Lighting at Stations

This standard has been revised throughout to provide a framework for consistent station lighting system design across GB mainline stations.

RIS-7016-INS Issue 2.2 – Interface between Station Platforms, Track, Trains, and Buffer Stops

This point release moved or withdrew content relating to platform lighting, which is now incorporated in another standard.

RIS-7701-INS Issue 1 – Withdrawal – Rail Industry Standard for Automatic Ticket Gates at Stations

This standard has been withdrawn.

Three standards have been updated under the Control, Command and Signalling umbrella.

RIS-8060-CCS Issue 2 – Engineering Requirements for Dispatch of Trains from Platforms

The update will help to reduce safety incidents, prevent route delays, cut costs associated with redesigns and retrofit, and improve staff health.

RIS-0737-CCS Issue 2 – Signal Sighting Assessment Requirements

This standard has been expanded to cover most trackside visible objects with updated terminology, guidance, and examples. It addresses RAIB’s Spital Junction overspeed recommendation by enhancing requirements for junction signals, readability, and human perception.

RIS-0733-CCS Issue 1.5 – Lineside Operational Signs

This point release clarifies that most lineside operational signs require a sighting assessment as part of ensuring safe integration.

A new standard and two technical notes have been published for Traffic Operation and Management. Two standards have been updated, and a module has been updated in the Rule Book.

RIS-3781-TOM Issue 3 – Requirements for the Operation of Freight Trains and the Conveyance of Dangerous Goods by any Train

New requirements have been included regarding the vehicle condition check to be undertaken before a freight train begins its journey, the securing of vehicles, brake overcharge, and enhanced air brake continuity tests.

GOGN3617 Issue 1 – Guidance on Competence and Training of Freight Train Preparers

This new guidance note assists railway undertakings in creating a framework for training, competence, and assessment of staff who undertake a freight train preparer role.

Rule Book – GERT8000-TW4 Issue 3 – Preparation and working of freight trains

This Rule Book module has been updated following a review of the activities associated with the preparation of freight trains, braking instructions, and the securing of vehicles.

RIS-3702-TOM Issue 4 – Management of Route Knowledge

A requirement for railway undertakings was added, and requirements for drivers were updated to reflect advances in technology. New guidance has also been provided on communication between traincrew and third parties.

TN3302 Issue 1 – Clarifying Freight Train Preparation Responsibilities

This technical note sets out FOC and ECM responsibilities and expectations to promote the safe preparation and operation of freight trains.

TN3303 Issue 1 – Clarification on drugs and alcohol testing for safety-critical workers (renumbered from TN3300)

This technical note aims to provide a greater understanding of the importance of drugs and alcohol testing for safety-critical workers by providing the rationale for the requirement and the importance of undertaking the tests.

One plant standard and one technical note have been updated.

RIS-1710-PLT Issue 3 – Engineering Certification of Railborne Plant and the Assessment of Non-Railborne Plant

The update helps the user to understand better the process of engineering acceptance of on-track machines (OTM), on-track plant (OTP), and non-railborne plant. The updates also help designers, manufacturers, and plant assessment bodies (PABs) to understand the implications of design and maintenance changes, including changes to software and those potentially affecting cyber security.

TN4300 Issue 2 – Key Plant Principles

This technical note has been updated to refer to RIS-1710-PLT Issue 3. It is a single document providing general information about using railborne and other plant, and to provide links to the many other sources of useful information and guidance. It is intended to complement Key Train Requirements and Key Wagon Maintenance Principles.

New requirements and clarifications have been introduced in more than 20 Rule Book modules and handbooks.

Freight train preparation.

GERT8000-TW4 Iss 3 – Preparation and working of freight trains.

Possession arrangements.

GERT8000-HB9 Iss 10 – IWA or COSS setting up safe systems of work within possessions

GERT8000-HB11 Iss 12 – Duties of the person in charge of the possession (PICOP)

GERT8000-HB12 Iss 12 – Duties of the engineering supervisor (ES) in a possession

GERT8000-T3 Iss 14 – Possession of a running line for engineering work

GERT8000-TS11 Iss 9 – Failure of, or work on, signalling equipment – signallers' regulations

Patrolling, examining and inspecting duties.

GERT8000-HB6 Iss 9 – General duties of an individual working alone (IWA)

GERT8000-HB7 Iss 11 – General duties of a controller of site safety (COSS)

ERTMS

RS525 Iss 2 – ERTMS Handbook

GERT8000-M1 Iss 10 – Dealing with a train accident or train evacuation

GERT8000-M2 Iss 10 – Train stopped by train failure

GERT8000-S5 Iss 14 – Passing a signal at danger or an end of authority (EoA) without a movement authority (MA)

GERT8000-S7 Iss 8 – Observing and obeying signalling indications. Train warning systems. Reporting signalling failures and irregularities.

GERT8000-TS1 Iss 20 – General signalling regulations

GERT8000-TS10 Iss 5 – ERTMS Level 2 signalling regulations

GERT8000-TW1 Iss 23 – Preparation and movement of trains

GERT8000-TW7 Iss 11 – Wrong-direction movements

General updates

General improvements have also been made to update the Rule Book. Further details can be found in the Rule Book Briefing Leaflet and in the interactive Rule Book briefing slide deck.

Eight documents have been published by the wider industry.

Poster L11 Issue 1 - Lift and carry of fixed extended loads – risk of derailment

COP0 Issue 7 – Code of Practice for M&EE Documents

COP0014 Issue 8 – Code of Practice for Trailers and Attachments with OTP

COP0050 Issue 1 – Code of Practice for Plant Working/Travelling in Enclosed Locations

COP0125 Issue 6 – Code of Practice for Management of sidings safety surveys

COP0129 Issue 3 – Code of Practice for Control of Mobile communication equipment use in driving cabs

COP0130 Issue 3 – Code of Practice for OTM Route Conducting Policy

COP0131 Issue 3 – Code of Practice for OTM Driver Communication Review Group (CRG)