New ORR guidance to support the rollout of latest safety technology

Train protection systems are equipment fitted to trains and the track that can reduce risks from trains passing signals at danger (SPADs) and overspeeding. They are fundamental to the safe and efficient operation of modern railways.

History of train protection system regulations in the UK

Following a series of railway accidents in the 1990s involving SPADs, the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 (RSR99) were introduced to regulate the installation of a form of train protection system on the railway. These regulations are an important part of railway health and safety legislation which ensures safe operation of not just the mainline railway, but other metro transport systems such as the London Underground.

RSR99 requires a minimum level of train protection to be installed on the railways (known as Train Protection and Warning System, or TPWS) with the expectation that higher levels of train protection, known as Automatic Train Protection (ATP) would be installed when reasonably practicable to do so. It has been 25 years since these regulations were introduced and the mainline railway has now developed long-term plans for a digital railway which includes the installation of ATP across the network.  

Supporting the rollout of Automatic Train Protection

We recognise that the deployment of ATP systems on the railways will reduce many safety risks, but the actual deployment process itself is complex. The document, developed with stakeholders, provides pragmatic guidance to implementing ATP in a safe and consistent way.

The guidance will help duty holders understand their legal obligations under RSR99 as they manage the migration towards ATP across the network, and also clarifies obligations under other railway safety regulations to manage the migration safely, such as applying for amended safety certificates or safety authorisations under ROGS due to substantial changes to the transport system that a duty holder operates or manages.

ORR’s document reflects the safety expectations around modern technologies that underpin train protection on Great Britain’s railways and metro systems, and provides a resource for anyone involved in the design, management and operation of train protection systems, including train operators and infrastructure managers.

We will continue to work closely with industry to provide support on the regulatory framework as the deployment of ATP systems progresses.