Health and safety

Following an Office of Rail and Road (ORR) investigation, Scotland’s Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has prosecuted Network Rail, who were fined £135,000 by Edinburgh Sheriff Court, for failing to maintain and improve the railway fencing near Musselburgh, East Lothian which left a 13-year-old boy with serious injuries.

The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 – also commonly known as ROGS – are set of rules that provide the regulatory regime for rail safety, including the mainline railway, metros (including London Underground), tramways, light rail and heritage railways.

Following an investigation by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), Scotland’s Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has prosecuted Network Rail for allowing trains to travel at more than 100mph over a badly storm damaged viaduct.

I was asked to speak at this year’s International Rail Safety Conference, on the subject of “Learning from incidents and planning change” and it was an easy decision for me, what to speak about.

Improving road safety is a global challenge. Road traffic injuries and deaths have a terrible impact on individuals and communities, and too many people still die on our road network despite it being one of the safest in the world.

Statement from HM Chief Inspector of Railways, Ian Prosser CBE.

Statement from the Office of Rail and Road's HM Chief Inspector of Railways Ian Prosser CBE.

Cyber security is vital to ensure critical railway systems are kept running.