Plus ça Change…
It is in that context that our Business Plan for the financial year 2022-23 is written. The whole industry is going through a period of significant change. Finding out what the 'new normal' will look like as we build back after the Covid-19 pandemic. Finding out what the 'new normal' will look like as the shape and form of Great British Railways becomes clearer. It's all change…
And yet, for RSSB things stay the same. Our underlying remit is to ensure, as best we can, the maintenance and continual improvement of safety performance. Our high-level plans, and specific commitments, have been agreed with our members in consultation with the wider industry.
With Covid-19 still impacting the whole of society, our health and wellbeing team will develop resources to guide our members to keep staff healthy. Workforce safety, and that of the public will be addressed through upgrades to our Safety Risk Model and Precursor Indicator Model, as well as our continued focus on trespass, SPADs and over-speeding, and asset integrity.
While we 'build back better', we will work to improve rail's sustainability credentials. Not just with research and standards for extending electrification, but also the safe introduction of hydrogen powered trains. Both will help decarbonise the railway and improve air quality.
We will support activities to increase social value with greater accessibility to railway services, re-opened branch lines, and more efficient use of freight paths to take more lorries off the roads. These are just some of our plans for 2022-23. All intended to maintain and improve both the safety and sustainability of our railway in this time of change.
