“Britain’s rail industry is a vital part of the economy and society. It provides essential transport services for people and goods. It has a strong track record of improving safety and health performance, but there is no room for complacency. The industry faces several challenges including cost and reliability. Passenger demand patterns have changed, and ticket revenue is still lower overall than in 2019. The system needs to be more agile to attract more freight onto rail. And we need to prepare for a changing climate.

“These challenges require a proactive and collaborative approach to managing safety and health risks for a safe, reliable, and sustainable rail system. It requires a strong commitment from all the parties involved, and a continuous monitoring and evaluation of the progress and impact of the actions and initiatives. By implementing this strategy, the rail industry will demonstrate its leadership and excellence in safety and health management and will contribute to the social and economic wellbeing of the UK.”

“This strategy comes at a vitally important time for the rail industry. Taking an industry wide assessment of key risks, it was developed through extensive industry consultation. It identifies the opportunities that offer the greatest benefit and value from working in collaboration, and sharing good quality data and best practice across the sector. It really is a vision created by the whole industry for the benefit of us all.”