Train Accident Risk Group
The Train Accident Risk Group (TARG) is a cross-industry group that collaborates on the risks arising from train operations and the safety of workforce. Part of a network of industry subgroups, TARG’s purpose is to oversee the delivery of the train operations areas of the industry’s safety strategy, Leading Health and Safety on Britain’s Railway.
“Using the RSSB train accident precursor indicator model, TARG has identified five key risk areas which, along with an ongoing focus on SPADs and the embedding of the SPAD Risk Reduction Strategy, form the focus of the group’s meetings.”
Scope
TARG exists to understand and review the proportion of total system risk relevant to its scope. The group is required to:
- monitor the effectiveness of current control arrangements
- identify and sponsor improvement opportunities, including research and RSSB-facilitated products and services
- learn from and promote good practice
- facilitate cooperation
- respond to requests from the System Safety Risk Group (SSRG) and other cooperative forums
- consider future developments that may impact its risk (horizon scanning).
Read our remit.
The progress we're making
Train accident riskResponding to the requirements of RIS-3704-TOM, TARG continues to support route and regional OPSRAMs with high-quality products, data, events, and insights, to share good practice and improve risk management.
SPAD management
The SPAD Risk Subgroup has developed the SPAD Self-Evaluation Tool in collaboration with operators to help industry manage SPAD risk. Operators can use the digital form to build a complete picture of their SPAD-related performance, with the results showing various improvement strategies related to specific SPAD topic areas.
The group’s good practice guide, ‘Improving the Understanding and Management of SPAD notices’ was published in September 2023. Complete with example templates, it provides operators with best practice examples on how to complete the SPAD alert notice and the SPAD initial learning notice.
Last updated: 26/01/2024. Read our latest train operations safety performance overview for more on how we are enhancing the safety of train operations.
Subgroups
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Heritage Train Risk GroupThe Heritage Train Risk Group (HTRG) supports industry stakeholders involved with the operation of heritage trains (as defined by the RSSB heritage standards) on the GB mainline railway (mainline heritage train services). HTRG is the lead industry coordination group in the niche area of mainline heritage train services within ‘Leading Health and Safety on Britain’s Railway (LHSBR)'.
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SPAD Risk SubgroupThe SPAD risk Subgroup promotes the RSSB SPAD Strategy, working closely with TARG and the national route groups (OPSRAMs/TOSG). We encourage operating companies to develop their own SPAD strategies, and to share good practice and lessons learnt from incidents.
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Overspeed GroupThe cross-industry Overspeed Group (OSG) improves the management and understanding of overspeed risk. They do this through the use and improved application of technology, operational processes, and competence. It is responsible for the production of an industry-wide strategy to improve the management of trains overspeeding. It is also responsible for the work on blanket speed restrictions as part of the Laurencekirk to Portlethen RAIB recommendation 2.
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RAATS User GroupThe RAATS User Group (RUG) assists the industry’s understanding of SPAD risk and improving train performance by focusing on red aspect approaches using the Red Aspect Approaches to Signal (RAATS) toolkit. Ultimately, through using data from this tool it is possible to analyse multiple red aspect signals over time and at different locations to help make the network safer and more efficient. Detail on the tool itself can be found on our RAATS webpage. For more information please contact us.
Membership
The group’s membership is made up of the following industry categories:
- trade unions
- passenger train operators
- freight and other non-passenger train operators
- infrastructure managers and owners
- RSSB
- Department for Transport (observer)
- Office of Rail and Road (observer).
Chair of committee: Mark Goodall, Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd and Oliver Schepisi from NTS Global
RSSB main representative: Philippa Murphy
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Committee members
Name Company Representing Status Andrew Simmons Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Member Andrew Skitt Colas Rail Ltd Industry Association Member Ash Gardner Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) Independent Observer Brad Smith Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Member Chris Harrison RSSB RSSB Member Chris Knowles RSSB RSSB Member Claire MacMillan RSSB RSSB Member David Lister Abellio Scotrail Limited Passenger Train Operators Member Gary Portsmouth RSSB RSSB Member Gemma Stanners RSSB RSSB Member Graham Nicholas RSSB other Chair Member Howard Edwards TSSA Trade Union Member Ian Brightmore Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Member Jimmy Pettitt Freightliner Non Passenger Train Operators Chair SPAD RSG Joe Wilson RSSB RSSB Member John Metcalfe Aslef Trustee Company Limited Trade Union Member Justin Willett Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Independent Chair Katie Mumford RSSB RSSB Member Keith Shepherd Office of Rail and Road Regulator Observer Nicolas Edwards DB Cargo (UK) Limited Non Passenger Train Operators Member Paul Ashton Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Member Paul Atherfold Abellio East Anglia Limited Passenger Train Operators Member Peter Brockett GB Railfreight Limited Non Passenger Train Operators Member Philippa Murphy RSSB RSSB Member Robin Marie Department For Transport Government Observer Sean Hutchison Govia Thameslink Railway Limited Passenger Train Operators Member
