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  • Home
  • Standards
  • Types of Standards and How They Work

Types of Standards and how They Work

Introductions

Standards help rail companies to address legal requirements and other obligations. Using standards can offer a set of powerful business and marketing tools for organizations of all sizes. You can use them to fine-tune your performance and manage the risks you face while operating in more efficient and sustainable ways; they’ll allow you to demonstrate the quality of what you do to your customers; and they help you to see how to embed best practice into your organisation.

Watch our webinar which talks about Understanding the Legal Framework Around Standards

National Technical Rules
National Technical Rules (NTRs) provide controls to ensure essential requirements specified in the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 (as amended) are met.
National Safety Rules
National Safety Rules (NSRs) are common railway safety requirements that are imposed by the government and regulator on those operating the railway.
Rail Industry Standards
Rail Industry Standards (RIS) define functional or technical requirements that can be used as off-the-shelf, company-level standards, procedures and best practice to meet legal aims.
Company and Project Standards
Standards may be agreed at company or project level. Find out how we support company and project standards and when organisations need to develop company-level standards.
Technical Specifications for Interoperability
Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) apply in the European Union. Find out more information on this page.
National Technical Specification Notices NTSNs
National Technical Specification Notices define the technical and operational standards to satisfy essential requirements and ensure the interoperability of the railway system.
National Operations Publications
National Operational Publications (NOPs) contain direct instructions for railway staff and are commonly known as ‘The Rule Book’.
Complying with Legislation
This page provides information on the legislative framework which outline how the rail industry operates, covering railway-specific regulations and some non-railway-specific regulations.
European and International Standards
European standards are standards that help develop the single European market for goods and services in all sectors. They are intended to help facilitate trade between countries, create new markets, and cut compliance costs.
Standards Self-Assessments
The Standards Self-Assessments page provides information and self-assessment tests to help users better understand how to use standards and how they link together.
  • Different Types of Standards And Rules

    The diagram below reflects the different types of standards and rules which exist today.

    The different types of standards and rules which exist today

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