National Freight Safety Group
Scope
To achieve these objectives, the group will:
- understand the national risk profile for freight and develop strategies to improve areas of concern.
- communicate issues to the route groups, multi-route groups and topic groups for action.
- obtain verification that issues have been addressed and are being managed.
- provide an advisory function for the System Safety Review Group (SSRG) and industry members.
- review the effectiveness of freight industry performance in managing risks.
- promote and facilitate the management of risk by the most appropriate means.
- ensure the cooperative structure encompasses the whole of the freight railway system’s risk profile.
- identify good practice and share it with the relevant groups and stakeholders.
- promote improvements in cooperation amongst safety management system duty holders.
- review and challenge the effectiveness of the existing freight meetings to promote safety cooperation.
- introduce an assurance process into the active groups and the process of safety cooperation.
- sponsor and own research and development projects.
- understand legislation and regulation and the impacts on the industry of proposed changes to them from within the UK and Europe.
- horizon scan: systematically examine potential threats and opportunities to detect early signs of potentially important developments and changes to the industry risk profile.
Read our NFSG Integrated Plan for Freight Safety.
The progress we’re making
We’re leading the industry response to RAIB recommendations
NFSG is leading on and working collaboratively with the freight sector in the progress and management of Llangennech recommendations 6 and 8 from the RAIB accident investigation report.
We’re leading on a Condition of Freight Vehicles on the Network project
In collaboration with the freight sector and the University of Newcastle, we’re leading the Condition of Freight Vehicles on the Network (CFVN) project to ensure vehicles enter the network in a safe condition. This includes increased knowledge and development of the human factors involved in safety-critical activities.
We’re providing a more strategic approach as we enter CP7
With support from RSSB, a comprehensive and strategic review of the Freight Integrated Plan has taken place. The new Freight Safe Programme has been endorsed by the Freight Council and will provide direction for NFSG into CP7.
Last updated: 07/08/2023. Visit our Leading Health and Safety on Britain’s Railway – Freight Derailment webpage for more on how we are responding to freight risk.
Subgroups
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Freight Safe Steering GroupThe Freight Safe Steering Group provides assurance to and takes direction from RDG FB on issues relating to the collaborative delivery of the LHSBR strategy. We provide governance to NFSG, and ensure that we understand the freight risk profile using a data driven approach.
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Rail Freight Operations GroupThe Rail Freight Operations Group monitors and reviews freight SPAD performance, ERTMS implementation, Railway Group Standards drafting, infrastructure issues, RAIB reports and ORR reports; and to act as a ‘task and finish’ group for National Freight Safety Group (NFSG) for selected operational safety matters, as directed.
Membership
The group’s membership is made up of the following industry categories:
- freight and other non-passenger train operators
- infrastructure managers and owners
- RSSB
- Office of Rail and Road (observer).
Chair of committee: Dougie Hill, RSSB
RSSB main representative: Phil Hibberd
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Committee members
Name Company Representing Status Annette Edgington Rail Operations (UK) Limited Freight Operator Member Caroline Meek Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Member Claire Peers Direct Rail Services Limited Freight Operator Alternate Craig Hutchison Direct Rail Services Limited Freight Operator Member Craig Watson Direct Rail Services Limited Freight Operator Member David Ethell N/A Independent Member Dean Duthie GB Railfreight Limited Freight Operator Member Dougie Hill RSSB RSSB Chair Greg Morse RSSB RSSB Member James Lonergan RSSB RSSB Member Jimmy Pettitt Freightliner Limited Freight Operator Member Joseph Hagan Colas Rail Limited Freight Operator Member Liesel von Metz Devon and Cornwall Railways Limited Freight Operator Member Marc Binney DB Cargo (UK) Limited Freight Operator Member Matthew Farell Office of Rail and Road Office of Rail and Road Observer Michael Jackson Deutsche Bahn Freight Operator Member Neil Sime Victa Railfreight Limited Freight Operator Alternate Nicolas Edwards DB Cargo (UK) Limited Freight Operator Member Patrick Talbot Office of Rail and Road Office of Rail and Road Observer Paul Frost Freightliner Limited Freight Operator Member Paul Verghese Victa Railfreight Limited Freight Operator Member Penny Hattam RSSB RSSB Member Peter Williams Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Member Phil Hibberd RSSB RSSB Member Radhika Kohli RSSB RSSB Member Richard Dare Colas Rail Limited Freight Operator Member Roy Howes GB Railfreight Limited Freight Operator Alternate Stephanie Ferry Rail Operations (UK) Limited Freight Operator Member Steve Rhymes Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Alternate Stuart Anderson GB Railfreight Limited Freight Operator Member