Network Rail seeks derogation from standards at Bristol

Network Rail successfully completed a major resignalling project at Bristol over the Easter weekend, but had to seek a variation from safety standards for platforms fitted with signals in the middle in case longer vehicles overrun the signalling sections.

RAIL understands this forced Great Western Railway and CrossCountry to revise instructions for drivers at short notice, and that a 5mph speed limit on the affected platforms is now in place.

Explaining the variation to its normal standards, RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board) spokesman Matt Clements said the work related to Rail Industry Standard RIS-0758-CCS.

“Rail Industry Standards capture industry-agreed best practice, and will usually offer an off-the-shelf method for duty holders [such as Network Rail and train operating companies - TOCs] to use to meet requirements,” he said.

“However, this does not preclude the option of meeting requirements in a different, equally effective and reasonable way. This should be supported by a robust risk assessment and consultation with all affected parties and in line with the organisation’s safety management system. The organisation can further assure itself by sharing its alternative approach and seeking collective industry advice from the relevant Standards Committee, using RSSB’s deviation application process.

“This is what has happened in this case. Network Rail sought advice from the Control Command and Signalling Standards Committee about how to meet the requirements of the standard when longer vehicles extend beyond the limit of the new midplatform signals. That advice was given, and Network Rail was able to co-operate with the Railway Undertakings [TOCs] to implement controls to manage the risk.”

Clements added that it was “very much up to Network Rail and the train operating companies to manage safety, applying shared industry standards and rules as appropriate”.

The work at Bristol concluded on April 4. It is part of a wider programme of capacity enhancements in the area, including quadrupling tracks on Filton Bank. This full project is expected to be completed in Easter 2019.