Railway Safety Advisory Council

Part 8 of the Railway Safety Act 2005 established the Railway Safety Advisory Council.

The Council has 14 members appointed by the Minister of Transport Tourism and Sport including an independent chairperson, at least 4 persons representing railway undertakings including one representing heritage railways, at least 3 persons from organisations which represent staff of railway undertakings, at least one person representing the public interest, at least one person representing a body involved in the regulation of worker safety or public safety, at least one person from an organisation representing the interests of mobility-impaired persons, and at least one person with particular expertise relevant to railway safety.

The function of the Council is to consider issues relevant to railway safety and to make recommendations where they decide to do so to the Commission or to the Minister.

The Commission is responsible for providing the facilities and services to the Council for the carrying out of its functions.

The Council may make recommendations to the Commission in relation to—

  1. regulations, standards, guidelines and codes of practice that are in force in relation to railway safety,
  2. proposals for regulations, standards, guidelines or codes of practice in relation to railway safety submitted by the Commission to the Council for consideration,
  3. other matters relating to railway safety other than matters relating to industrial relations, and
  4. any other matters related to the functions of the Commission or which the Commission submits to the Council for consideration,

The Council may make recommendations to the Minister in relation to—

  1. railway safety policy,
  2. the adequacy of railway safety legislation which is in force,
  3. proposals for legislation or regulations in relation to railway safety submitted by the Minister to the Council for consideration,
  4. the assignment of specific functions relating to railway safety to the Commission,
  5. the nature and mix of expertise, skills and experience that is desirable in a candidate for appointment as a commissioner, and
  6. any other matter which, in the opinion of the Council, is relevant to the effective performance by the Council or by the Commission of its functions or which the Minister submits to the Council for consideration.

The Commission or the Minister must consider the recommendations made by the Council.

In addition the Commission may consult the Council on railway safety or the effective performance by the Commission of its functions.

The Minister may consult the Council on his or her functions with respect to railway safety.

The current Council was appointed by the Minister in October 2022 for a period of 3 years.