Channel Tunnel Safety Authority

The UK secretariat to the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority (CTSA) is provided by ORR.

Their duties are to provide support to the UK head and members of the UK delegation. There is a similar organisation in Paris which supports the French delegation to the authority.

The Safety Authority does not report to the Office of Rail Regulation. It is an independent body which reports through the Channel Tunnel Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) to both the UK and French Governments. It will also report directly to both Governments in particular situations when required.

In this section

• CTSA Secretariat responsibilities
• Role of Secretariat 
• Press notices and Annual reports

What are the responsibilities of CTSA?

The secretariats are responsible for providing administrative support to the work of the authority in the execution of its responsibilities under the Treaty of Canterbury. They include the following:

• advise and assist the IGC on all matters relating to safety in the construction and operation of the fixed link;
• ensure safety measures and practices applicable to the fixed link comply with national or international laws; and
• examine reports concerning any incident affecting safety within the fixed link; to make such investigations as are necessary; and report to the IGC.

The Safety Authority is a bi-national body comprising UK and French delegations each made up of five members. It is chaired alternately and for a period of one year by the head of each delegation. The Safety Authority has established a number of permanent and specialist working groups which provide detailed technical analysis and advice.

Back to top

Role of the Secretariat

• prepare for and execute the decisions of the Safety Authority;
• provide support to the Head and other Members of the UK Delegation; and
• support meetings of the Safety Authority and its Working Groups.