Rail Freight Operations Group
The Rail Freight Operations Group (RFOG) provides a forum for freight operating companies (FOCs) to discuss operational safety issues and share safety intelligence. We also act as a ‘task and finish’ group on selected operational safety matters for the National Freight Safety Group (NFSG).
"A cross-industry working group which meets quarterly, the RFOG enables broad and impartial collaboration so that, together, we can address and help provide solutions to operational safety issues."
Scope
The group is required to:
- facilitate the collaborative management of rail freight risk by the provision of an open forum or other appropriate means
- identify freight risk areas of concern and communicate issues to freight operators for appropriate action
- monitor and review freight SPAD performance, ERTMS implementation, railway group standards drafting, infrastructure issues, RAIB reports, and ORR reports
- identify good practice, learning from experience and sharing with freight operator
- promote improvements in cooperation amongst duty holders
- deliver projects as directed by NSFG and those as agreed by RFOG meetings
- ensure recommendations directed at rail freight operators are reviewed and acted upon
- review and constructively challenge changes to rules and regulations where these impact on freight operators
- act as a focal point for operational expertise from the freight sector.
Membership
The group’s membership is made up of the following industry categories:
- Department for Transport (observer)
- infrastructure managers and owners
- passenger train operators
- freight and other non-passenger train operators
- RSSB.
Chair of committee: Nicolas Edwards, DB Cargo (UK) Limited
RSSB main representative: Gerald Riley
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Committee members
Name Company Representing Status Annette Edgington Rail Operations (UK) Limited Freight Operator Member David Ethell N/A Independent Member Carl Fox Victa Railfreight Limited Freight Operator Member Geoff Sweetmore Devon and Cornwall Railways Limited Freight Operator Member Gerald Riley RSSB RSSB Member Ian Rose Rail Operations (UK) Limited Freight Operator Member Kevin Langley Rail Operations (UK) Limited Freight Operator Member Kieron Bulman Direct Rail Services Limited Freight Operator Member Neil Lycett Rail Operations (UK) Limited Freight Operator Alternate Nicolas Edwards DB Cargo (UK) Limited Chair Chair Paul Frost Freightliner Limited Freight Operator Member Paul Lemon GB Railfreight Limited Freight Operator Member Penny Hattam RSSB ASIM Member Peter Brockett GB Railfreight Limited Freight Operator Member Peter Darling Office of Rail and Road Office of Rail and Road Member Peter Williams Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Member Phil Allison SCL Operations Freight Operator Member Phil Hibberd RSSB RSSB Member Richard Dare Colas Rail Limited Freight Operator Member Rob Mckittrick Victa Railfreight Limited Freight Operator Member Simon Wilkinson Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Member Stephen Brake Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) Certification Body Member
