Project number: 2021-STN-009

Rail Industry Standard for nationwide collaboration in managing control, command and signalling systems

This project created a Rail Industry Standard (RIS) for the National CCS Defect Recording, Analysis and Corrective Action System (DRACAS). This created an exemplar national process. It informed national requirements and guidance in RIS-0707-CCS issue two Management of Control Command and Signalling (CCS) Subsystem Failures, Faults and Defects.

'This is an important step in establishing the National CCS DRACAS and paves the way for implementation.'

Ged Neacy
Professional Head of Control Command and Signalling, RSSB and Chair of CCS SC

The challenge

No single duty holder is wholly accountable for the overall CCS system or its data. However, CCS system management is increasingly dependent on collaboration between multiple organisations. This makes CCS management difficult.

Systems like the European Train Control System (ETCS) involve a wider range of duty holders than previous CCS systems. Duty holders typically focus on ‘their’ parts of the system. As a result, the system as a whole gets overlooked.

A National CCS DRACAS would create the necessary structures and processes to solve this problem. However, its processes and responsibilities needed agreement and standardisation across the industry.

What we did

RSSB developed an industry-agreed standard for the capability requirements of the National CCS DRACAS. It states the process requirements for managing information and data about CCS subsystem failures.

This work used a model based systems engineering approach. It produced a System Model and Concept of Operations. The standard defines failures, faults, and defects. It includes guidance on how organisations can support the future National CCS DRACAS. The new framework in the standard shows how to include human factors in technical investigations.

Appendix A of the standard updates risk classifications that apply to CCS subsystem failures. It also includes standardised ETCS failure symptoms and risk classifications.

Benefits delivered

This project defined the processes for the National DRACAS for shared CCS Systems. The revision of RIS-0707-CCS states requirements to help projects implementing a DRACAS.

This project supports £231m of potential benefit to industry over 10 years.

RIS-0707-CCS alone is estimated to contribute £80.8m.

This compares to a total £351m disbenefit to the industry if it ‘does nothing’.