The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is an independent not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, which was established in 2003, upon the recommendation of the public inquiry into the Ladbroke Grove rail crash. It is owned by rail industry stakeholders, including Network Rail, infrastructure managers, train operating companies and rolling stock companies.
According to its own website "The Company’s primary objective is to facilitate the railway industry’s work to achieve continuous improvement in the health and safety performance of the railways in Great Britain, and thus to facilitate the reduction of risk to passengers, employees and the affected public."
In this regard, it is intended to lead the other bodies associated with the Great Britain rail network:
(there is also National Rail - which is the public face of the rail network).
It is responsible for the publication and updating of the British Railway Rule Book, which defines technical standards and operating procedures. The RSSB promotes the Trackoff programme promoting rail safety within schools, and the Sustainable Rail Programme which has been established to support the rail industry in reaching its full potential for a sustainable transport system. In conjunction with UIC, RSSB provides SPARK, a web tool for the rail industry to share information and help drive innovation.