Reference limits for freight wagon defects
Freight trains are inspected by the operator prior to departure and may consist of wagons of varying design from different keepers.
It is important that the industry has a common understanding of what is considered to be defective and the actions that need to be taken. Misunderstanding could lead, at best, to wagons being taken unnecessarily out of service—and at worst, to an accident.
RIS-2702-RST Issue 2 contained requirements to conduct inspections that should be in operational standards, and the listed defects did not reflect the technologies used on freight wagons in Great Britain today.
In cooperation with freight train operators, who are directly responsible for applying the standard, we have rewritten it to remove any requirements relating to wagon inspection. This is so that they can be set out in operational standards. The standard now focuses on the need to act if a defect is discovered in service.
The appendix contains tables defining the defect conditions and acceptable limits, and the actions to be taken if a defect is discovered.
These tables have been fully rewritten to reflect the components and systems used on wagons today, and the limits have been aligned with other standards that govern those systems.
Improved control of freight wagon condition is estimated to deliver £197k of benefit through the reduction of freight train incidents over the next five years.
This reflects better defect detection and more consistent decision-making across operators.