Health and safety

Richard Hines, ORR's chief inspector of railways, and Sally Griffiths, RSSB's professional head of occupational health and safety, talk about the work being done to improve welfare facilities for rail workers.

Great Western Railway (GWR) has today been fined £1 million and ordered to pay more than £78,000 in costs after pleading guilty to breaches of health and safety law, following an investigation and prosecution by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has today welcomed the progress made by industry towards the recommendations it set out as part of joint work with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and Network Rail to improve health and safety decision making.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has authorised significant upgrades to Newquay station in Cornwall. The station’s second platform has been reintroduced, and the project is part of a wider scheme to allow coast-to-coast services to operate, including the introduction of a new train passing loop at Goss Moor, and the upgrading or removal of level crossings along the line.

• Industry must retain a relentless focus on safety throughout rail reform. • Financial constraints on Network Rail require careful management in the coming years. • Network Rail is taking action where train performance needs to improve. Passenger train punctuality is largely stable, but cancellations have reached record highs, with train operator cancellations the dominant factor.

The day-to-day safe and efficient operation of Great Britain’s railway relies heavily upon our industry colleagues. They are our most valuable asset and are at the heart of everything we do for passengers and users of our rail network.