Mission
The control of risk is something of vital importance to the rail sector. Third party risk (brought about by issues not within the control of the rail sector) is one of the biggest contributors to the overall level of safety on the rail network. Only a minority of rail accident fatalities are actually passengers travelling in trains. Data analysis suggests that injury to a third party is four times more likely than to a passenger travelling in a train. Overall, the major area of risk to the industry comes from this quarter and is largely as a result of incidents on level crossings and trespass.
The Safety Platform, acting as an advisory body for UIC activities in the field of safety and therefore working closely with the UIC, has as its core objective to put in place recommendations and actions to help control, mitigate or eradicate these risks and eliminate their underlying causes and effects.
Purpose
The purpose of the Safety Platform is:
- to help identify all types of measure or activity (related to system safety within the rail sector) likely to enable the safety IRS (International Railway Solution) to be maintained or enhanced and, in parallel, to boost the volume of international rail traffic (operating systems, organisational structures and remits of companies and bodies, legal and regulatory texts, methods, etc.).
- to promote overall coherence of the system safety of the railway sector by cooperating with UIC Forum and other Platforms whilst not interfering with their projects, in particular to be available to these Forum, Platforms and their Working Groups and provide, upon request, advice on the potential impact of their project proposals on overall levels of system safety.
Structure
The Safety Platform brings together Safety Directors (or employees with a comparable remit in line with the job titles used and corporate structure) from member companies of the UIC. Amongst these is a mixture of Infrastructure Managers and Railway Undertakings, as well as a number of organisations representing groups of railway companies. This plenary structure is then supported by a Steering Committee made up of UIC member companies based in Europe and beyond. Considerable additional independence is provided by having representatives from organisations such as the CER, EIM and RSSB.
Organisation
Safety Platform Chair:
Ali Chegini, Director of System Safety and Health at RSSB, appointed Chair in December 2020.
Members of the UIC Safety Platform:
Mainly railway companies in Europe and beyond. CFL, CP, DB AG, FTIA, HZ INFRA, INFRABEL, IRISH RAIL, JR GROUP, MERCITALIA Rail, Network Rail, ÖBB, PRORAIL, RAI, RENFE, RSSB, SNCF, SBB, SNCB, TRAFIKVERKET, TRENITALIA, Banedanmark, Euskotren.
Other participants: CER, EIM, AAR, FRA, Railway Association of Canada (RAC).
Steering Committee meetings: 3-4 times a year (if needed) in a restricted number.
Plenary sessions: Open to all UIC members, once or twice a year (spring and autumn depending on the agenda items).
UIC Safety team
For any further information please contact: UIC Safety team