Dates and venues for the latest in a series of heritage rail safety workshops with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) have been announced by the Heritage Railway Association.
The popular free workshops give operational, safety and other senior managers and directors from heritage railways and tramways in the UK the chance to hear the latest safety thinking from the industry’s regulator.
The workshops are open to all standard gauge, narrow gauge and 15” gauge railways, and all other railways and tramways regulated by the ORR. Operators of funicular railways are also welcome to attend.
The day-long sessions will also provide a comprehensive opportunity for candid discussion, feedback and networking on all manner of safety related issues. Six sessions have been arranged at a variety of venues intended to offer all heritage railways a workshop within reasonable travelling distance.
Heritage Railway Association Chief Executive, Steve Oates, said: “We’re very fortunate that heritage rail benefits from a strong and collaborative approach from the bodies involved with safety in our sector. These events are a must-do for every heritage railway and tramway in the country.
“They’re completely free and will ensure that your organisation has the latest safety thinking and an invaluable opportunity to talk through any issues with both colleagues and experts from the Office of Rail and Road.”
Simon Barber, Principal Inspector of Railways at The Office of Rail and Road, said “Safety is a really important part of running a successful railway. These workshops aim to provide heritage and minor railways with guidance on a number of key topic areas and offer the opportunity to discuss and engage with our Inspectors.”
The events begin in January in the South of England with a session at the Bluebell Railway on 15 January, followed by Seaton Tramway on 16 January. They then head east with the Nene Valley Railway hosting a session on 29 January, and Beamish Museum on 30 January. On 12 February Crewe Heritage Centre will be the venue for a workshop, before the sessions head over the border into Scotland on 13 February at Glasgow’s Riverside Museum.
The workshops are run by the ORR in association with the Heritage Railway Association. All operating railways are invited to attend and the event is open to the small number of operational railways that are not HRA member organisations in the UK too.
Places at each event are free of charge but limited to around 40 people. Initially, only two registrations from each railway can be accepted. Light refreshments will be available.
Bookings can be made here now
The Heritage Railway Association are also working to arrange two further workshops with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and details of these events will be announced in due course.
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