DOCUMENT STRUCTURE AND TYPES
Railway Group Standards (RGSs) and associated Guidance Notes, Rail Industry Approved Codes of
Practice, and Rail Industry Standards are structured by category, indicating the activity they relate to,
followed by an identification code which distinguishes the type of document it is, and then a unique
number identifier.
Document Category
GA
Administration
Category Description
Policy management and administration of
Railway Group Standards
GC
Track & Structures (Infrastructure)
GE
All Infrastructure Manager and
Railway Undertaking Requirements
Permanent way, structures and construction
safety
Multidisciplinary activities, including Rule Book
GH
GI
GK
Health & Safety
Infrastructure
Train Control & Communications
(Control Command and Signalling)
Operational and occupational health and safety
Multidisciplinary infrastructure activities
Signalling and telecommunications
GL
Electrification (Energy)
GM
GO
Trains (Rolling Stock)
Operations (Traffic Operation and
Management)
Electrification systems and electrical
installations
Trains and rolling stock
Operations, operational signalling, special
operations such as the acceptance and carriage
of dangerous goods, and safety-critical activities
GP
Plant
Fixed and mobile plant
Document Identification Code
RT
Railway Group Standard (RGS)
Example - GIRT7016
Document Identification Code Description
A RGS is a standard that defines mandatory
requirements in respect of the mainline railway
system. RGSs contain National Technical Rules
(NTSs) and National Safety Rules (NSRs).
GN
Railway Industry Guidance Note GN)
Example - GIGN7616
RM
Manual (RM)
Example - GERM8000-traindriver
A GN gives guidance on the interpretation of
requirements in a RGS, but can also be a standalone document setting out guidance on a
particular subject.
A RM is a suite of Railway Group Standards
covering a particular area or activity.
RC
Rail Industry Approved Code of
Practice (RACOP)
Example - GCRC5521
A RACOP is a non-mandatory document that
defines a potentially suitable and sufficient
means (but not the only means) of meeting an
identified set of mandatory measures within a
RGS.
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Rule Book Modules and Handbooks are further defined by trailing identification codes, examples of
which are set out in the table below:
Types of Rule Book
AC
Module - Example - GERT8000-AC
DC
Module - Example - GERT8000-DC
G
Module - Example - GERT8000-G1
GSMR
Module - Example - GERT8000GSM-R
Index
Module - Example - GERT8000Index
M
Module - Example - GERT8000-M1
OTP
Module - Example – GERT8000-OTP
OTM
Module - Example - GERT8000OTM
P
Module - Example - GERT8000-P1
PoSA
Module - Example - GERT8000PoSA
S
Module - Example - GERT8000-S4
SP
Module - Example - GERT8000-SP
SS
Module - Example - GERT8000-SS
T
Module - Example - GERT8000-T3
TS
Module - Example - GERT8000-TS1
TW
Module - Example - GERT8000-TW5
HB
Hand Book - Example - GERT8000HB12
Area of Activity
AC Electrified Lines
DC Electrified Lines
Personal safety and general responsibilities
Global systems for mobile communications
Other Document Naming Conventions
RIS
Rail Industry Standard (RIS)
Example RIS-1530-PLT
Document Description
A RIS defines functional or technical
requirements that may be adopted in
circumstances where management of a railway
subsystem does not necessitate the use of a
RGS. (The last three letter acronym represents
the approving standards committee).
Documents mandated by a Railway Group
Standard
A document providing design details for the
layout of lineside operational and lineside safety
signs.
A GPG or RS is produced as recognised good
practice for use by railway undertakings. These
complement RGSs and cover both engineering
and operations subjects.
These are legacy RGSs still numbered with a
British Rail number. They will be given a new
document identification code when they are
revised.
Form RT
Example - Form RT3183
Sign
Example - Sign AA003
GPG or
RS
Good Practice Guide (GPG or RS)
Example RS100
BR, TD
or OTS
Railway Group Standard
Example - BR1654
Glossary of railway terminology
Mishaps, incidents and extreme weather
On track plant
On track machines
Working by Pilotman
Proceed on safety sight authority
Signals
Permissible speeds and speed restrictions
Station working and shunting
Track and signalling work
Train signalling
Train Working
Handbooks for occupational activities of railway
personnel
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Associated Documents
Amendments and Clarifications, Briefing Notes, Impact Assessments, Technical Notes and Deviations
which relate to a RGS will be attached as a link to the relevant RGS, and are accessible by pressing on
the ‘More Info’ button when viewing a RGS on the website.
Other Organisation Documents
RSSB also publish documents on behalf of other organisations for the benefit of its members.
Organisation
Association of Train Operating Companies
(ATOC)
Example Document
ATOCACOP016
ATOCGPG019
ATOCGN003
AVST9005
The Mechanical and Electrical Engineers
Networking Group (M&EE NG)
COP0002
Poster 03
Type
Approved Code of Practice
Good Practice Guide
Guidance Note
Vehicle Interiors
(All withdrawn)
Codes of Practice
Posters
Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC)
To complement Railway Group Standards, ATOC issues a number of documents (Approved Codes of
Practice, Guidance Notes and Good Practice Guides*) for the benefit of its members. These cover
both operations and engineering related subjects and typically address areas where the subject
matter falls outside the criteria for inclusion within a Group Standard.
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ACOPs and Guidance Notes are version controlled and subject to periodic review.
Good Practice Notes are generally intended as one off documents.
All ATOC Vehicle Interiors documents published on the Railway Group Standards section
of the RSSB website have been withdrawn and are now covered in Railway Groups
Standards.
In issuing these documents, neither ATOC nor RSSB makes any warranty, express or implied, that
compliance with all or any documents published by RSSB on behalf of ATOC is sufficient on its own
to ensure safe systems of work or operation. Each user is reminded not only of their own
responsibilities to ensure health and safety at work, but also individual duties under health and safety
legislation.
The Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Networking Group (M&EE NG)
M&EE Networking Group is a non-profit making group dedicated to the sharing of professional
engineering and railway operations information and to provide a focus to the rail industry relating to
operational and technical safety of plant. The group is a meeting of the professional heads of
mechanical and electrical engineering and operations from infrastructure contractors, Network Rail,
RSSB, the Rail Plant Association, London Underground and elected representatives from other
infrastructure renewal companies, plant owners, and manufacturers / suppliers of plant and
technical services.
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The M&EE Networking Group produces Codes of Practice and other documents as good practice for
all members of the industry, which RSSB have agreed to publish on their behalf. In doing so, the
M&EE Networking Group remains solely responsible for all the content contained therein.
RSSB has not separately validated or approved the information. Railway industry users should seek
independent advice before adopting any practices set out therein.
By agreeing to publish the Codes of Practice RSSB does not make any representation or warranty,
express or implied, or accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents of the
Codes of Practice and/or whether their content is "state of the art". Furthermore RSSB shall have no
liability whatsoever as a result of publishing these Codes of Practice to any user for any loss or
damage incurred in respect of any of the information contained in the Codes of Practice and in
particular from any information which is incomplete or inaccurate.
Further information relating to Standards and the Rail industry can be found at
http://www.rssb.co.uk/standards-and-the-rail-industry
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