scope:

This policy:

a) defines the minimum requirements for all technical and engineering activities related to plant and Traction and Rolling Stock (T&RS) assets where Network Rail has engineering responsibility;

b) provides information on the safe acquisition, introduction, operation and use of plant and T&RS assets from an engineering perspective throughout their intended life;

c) describes the arrangements in place to allow Network Rail to fulfil the responsibilities of an Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM); and

d) provides transport undertakings (particularly those that haul and operate Network Rails' rail vehicles) with assurance that a controlled structure is implemented to demonstrate that Network Rail's plant and/or T&RS assets are safe to operate and use.

This policy is applicable to functions in Network Rail responsible for the engineering management of plant and T&RS assets. It applies to all assets where Network Rail owns or is identified as the ECM.

The existence of this policy and the standards supporting it does not preclude third parties acting as contractors for Network Rail from using their own documented processes if they:

a) have been submitted and accepted, in advance, in writing by the Professional Head of Plant or T&RS;

b) are clearly identified in the submission to the Professional Head of Plant or T&RS; and

c) are equivalent (or better) and provide a continuing level of asset protection acceptable to Network Rail, as agreed by the Professional Head of Plant or T&RS.

NOTE: Such applications will be supported by a risk assessment in accordance with the Common Safety Method for Risk Evaluation and Assessment (CSM RA) (or applicable elements) and clearly state the difference in impact (effectiveness of control measure or reduced risk consequence) between implementing Network Rail safety requirements or the third party's documented processes.

Plant and T&RS assets are defined in the following categories:

a) T&RS - e.g. wagons, carriages, locomotives, diesel and electric multiple units etc;

b) on-track machines (OTM) - e.g. tampers, rail grinders, ballast cleaners, track renewal train, piling trains, rail cranes, multi-purpose vehicles, etc.;

c) on-track plant (OTP) - e.g. road rail vehicles (RRVs) excavators, mobile elevated working platforms, trailers;

d) demountable plant - e.g. Kubota, gators, trolleys, cart, mules.

e) portable and transportable plant (P&TP) - e.g. portable machinery, appliances, apparatus and tools;

f) fixed plant (excluding remote condition monitoring and mobile condition monitoring assets) - e.g. pumping installations, building/station lifts, escalators, gas point heating and ventilation;

g) depot plant - e.g. wheel lathes, vehicle lifting jacks; gantry cranes, carriage washing plant, shunters, traversers; and

h) industrial vehicles - e.g. privately owned shunters.

Purpose

The implementation of this policy supports the management of Network Rail assets to mitigate the following:

a) non-compliance with legislation and regulatory requirements; and

b) operational safety risks on Network Rail managed infrastructure.