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Regulator launches review of Rail Safety and Standards Board

4 March 2010
ORR/09/10

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) today launched a consultation on the role, governance and funding of the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB).

RSSB is the mainline railway’s industry’s safety body, and its Board has asked ORR to carry out the review.

ORR will consider the role of RSSB in light of the need for the rail industry to continue to: strive for excellence in health and safety; give better value for money to users and taxpayers; and respond to the influence of European institutions on Britain’s rail industry.

The review will consider what RSSB currently does, and those areas where it could do more or do less. It will consider the implications of this for the governance and funding of RSSB.

Ian Prosser, director of railway safety said:

“Since its formation in 2003, RSSB has played a key part  in the improvement of safety and value for money in the rail industry.

“This review is about building on RSSB’s past successes and ensuring that it can continue to facilitate further improvements in health and safety while offering value for money of the railway to users and taxpayers.

To take part in the consultation which runs until 7 May 2010 visit our website.

Notes to editors

  1. The consultation can be accessed on the ORR website.
  2. The closing date for responses is 7 May 2010.
  3. RSSB was created in 2003 after the Cullen inquiry into the Ladbroke Grove accident recommended the creation of an industry safety body for the mainline railway, independent of individual companies and organisations. Train operators and Network Rail are required to be members of RSSB as a condition of their licences, rail industry suppliers may be members.
  4. RSSB supports and facilitates the mainline railway in several different ways including: facilitating and helping to develop Railway Group Standards; the collection of safety data; undertaking research and development; and helping to support work in Europe.
  5. RSSB’s constitution makes provision for such formal reviews every five years – the last one was in 2005.
  6. For more information about the RSSB, visit: http://www.rssb.co.uk/whoweare/a_guide_to_rssb.asp and http://www.rssb.co.uk/pdf/StrategicBusinessPlan2009-2014.pdf 

ORR press office

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