Infrastructure Standards Committee Strategy
Railway standards are agreed methods on what to do as a minimum requirement in all areas of the railway, divided up into seven main areas. The seven standards areas are: Control, Command and Signalling (CCS); Data, Systems and Telematics; Energy; Infrastructure; Plant; Rolling Stock; Traffic Operation and Management.
Each standards area has its own committee, overseen by the Industry Standards Coordination Committee (ISCC). Sometimes a standards committee may need to collaborate with other standards committees to ensure that the standards are appropriate for all areas of the railway involved, and that there is good interoperability between different standards areas.
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What does the INS area cover?The INS area refers to all physical aspects of the track, bridges, structures, stations, depots and yards. There are 20,000 miles of track, 2,500 stations and 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts on Britain’s national rail network.
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Why is this area important?
Trains move on or though many different tracks, bridges, structures, stations, depots, and yards that are in the industry. In order to ensure the movement of trains on or through those structures is safe, co-ordinated, and efficient there need to be agreed standards for infrastructure. Without these agreed standards train movements would not be safe, or able to move as part of a co-ordinated railway with different tracks, bridges, structures, stations, depots, and yards.
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What does the new strategy address?
The new INS SC strategy addresses key areas that are particularly relevant for Control Period 6 (CP6, 2019-2024). These are: the need to reduce costs and increase high performance especially following the Covid-19 pandemic; new technologies; decarbonisation and sustainability; changes following EU-exit.
The strategy will focus on:
- gathering industry intelligence and informing industry options,
- delivering standards,
- supporting implementation,
- robust governance,
- developing competence.
The strategy also explains who will be involved in considering the standards, how it will be done, and other railway policies or frameworks that will be included.