The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) will make changes to its Rule Book next month to improve safety and save the rail industry millions of pounds.
New signage and revised industry standards will be added to the Rule Book in September and are expected to improve safety, decrease the need for drivers to multitask and reduce delays.
RSSB says that these developments highlight a commitment to both worker protection and economic efficiency.
The changes are forecast to save the industry around £41 million over the next five years.
One update will see new temporary speed signage introduced at user-worked level crossings and at non-track-fault-related speed restrictions.
This change will allow drivers to accelerate when the front of the train reaches a higher permissible speed, compared to current rules which require the whole train to be past that point. This will allow drivers to concentrate on what is ahead of them rather than monitoring the rear of the train.
Other changes to the Rule Book next month will include details regarding walking on or near the line and route- and line-proving trains.
The latest series of changes to RSSB’s Rule Book will be made in the standards update on 7th September and will come into effect in December this year.
Image credit: iStock
