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.

Understanding the standards legal framework

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Types of Railway Standards

Rail Industry Standards

Rail Industry Standards (RISs) are industry-agreed and define how subsystems should be operated or managed.

National technical rules

These provide controls to ensure essential requirements specified in the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 (as amended) are met.

National Safety Rules

These are common railway safety requirements that are imposed by the government and regulator on those operating the railway.

National Technical Specification Notices NTSNs

These define the technical and operational standards to satisfy requirements and ensure interoperability.

European and International Standards

These help facilitate trade between countries, create new markets, enable innovation, and cut compliance costs across all sectors.

Company and Project Standards

Standards may be agreed at company or project level. Find out when organisations need to develop company-level standards.

Standards Guidance & Resources

The Rule Book

The Rule Book is a series of documents that contain direct instructions for railway staff. They are termed as National Operations Publications within the Group Standards Code.

RSSB technical notes

RSSB’s technical notes to help with the application of standards guidance or legislation. They may relate to one specific standard multiple standards or pieces of legislation relating to a specific topic.

Standards self-assessments

Gain a better understanding of standards with our handy tests.

National Technical Specification Notice guidance

This supports users of NTSNs and related processes.

Different Types of Standards And Rules

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

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Get in touch with us for more information.

Tom Lee

Tel: 020 3142 5509

tom.lee@rssb.co.uk