Tile: Rule Book Updates | RSSB Rule Book modules

Note: The latest updates to standards will be added to the live Rule Book module once each standard has been formally activated on the RSSB website.
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- Select activity June 2026 Updates
  
  JUNE 2026
- Select activity GERT8000-RBBL-Iss-43
  
  GERT8000-RBBL-Iss-43
  Summary Of Changes
  This leaflet contains details of the following changes to the Rule Book (GERT8000) published in March 2026. Changes have been made to modules M1, M2 and TW1 as part of a review of emergency protection arrangements. Modules AC and DC and Handbooks 16 and 17 have been revised to include several changes proposed by the industry.
  
  Summary Of Changes
  This leaflet contains details of the following changes to the Rule Book (GERT8000) published in March 2026. Changes have been made to modules M1, M2 and TW1 as part of a review of emergency protection arrangements. Modules AC and DC and Handbooks 16 and 17 have been revised to include several changes proposed by the industry.
- Select activity GERT8000-AC-Iss-10
  
  GERT8000-AC-Iss-10
  Summary Of Changes
  Industry organisations must keep operational staff safe from electrical dangers when working on electrified lines. The Rule Book modules and handbooks for both AC and DC systems are designed to support this by giving clear, practical instructions. Recent updates improve clarity and consistency. They include adding new definitions, using the same terminology throughout, and referring to unwired sections where electrification is not continuous. Guidance on moving trains after the OLE has been checked by using a train has been clarified. Requirements for coasting have also been revised to reflect situations where the contact wire height is lower than usual.
  
  Summary Of Changes
  Industry organisations must keep operational staff safe from electrical dangers when working on electrified lines. The Rule Book modules and handbooks for both AC and DC systems are designed to support this by giving clear, practical instructions. Recent updates improve clarity and consistency. They include adding new definitions, using the same terminology throughout, and referring to unwired sections where electrification is not continuous. Guidance on moving trains after the OLE has been checked by using a train has been clarified. Requirements for coasting have also been revised to reflect situations where the contact wire height is lower than usual.
- Select activity GERT8000-HB16-Iss-7 (AC)
  
  GERT8000-HB16-Iss-7 (AC)
  Summary Of Changes
  Industry organisations must keep operational staff safe from electrical dangers when working on electrified lines. The Rule Book modules and handbooks for both AC and DC systems are designed to support this by giving clear, practical instructions. Recent updates improve clarity and consistency. They include adding new definitions, using the same terminology throughout, and referring to unwired sections where electrification is not continuous. Guidance on moving trains after the OLE has been checked by using a train has been clarified. Requirements for coasting have also been revised to reflect situations where the contact wire height is lower than usual.
  
  Summary Of Changes
  Industry organisations must keep operational staff safe from electrical dangers when working on electrified lines. The Rule Book modules and handbooks for both AC and DC systems are designed to support this by giving clear, practical instructions. Recent updates improve clarity and consistency. They include adding new definitions, using the same terminology throughout, and referring to unwired sections where electrification is not continuous. Guidance on moving trains after the OLE has been checked by using a train has been clarified. Requirements for coasting have also been revised to reflect situations where the contact wire height is lower than usual.
- Select activity GERT8000-DC-Iss-8
  
  GERT8000-DC-Iss-8
  Summary Of Changes
  Industry stakeholders have an obligation to manage the electrical risks to operational staff arising from carrying out routine operational tasks on electrified lines. Instructions provided to operational staff through the Rule Book modules and handbooks for ac and dc electrified lines are intended to manage this risk. The rule book will now include clearer definitions for key terms such as conductor rail equipment, isolated, authorised person, and automatic power changeover, ensuring users understand essential concepts. Wording throughout has been simplified, replacing inconsistent phrases like dangerous to life with one consistent term.
  
  Summary Of Changes
  Industry stakeholders have an obligation to manage the electrical risks to operational staff arising from carrying out routine operational tasks on electrified lines. Instructions provided to operational staff through the Rule Book modules and handbooks for ac and dc electrified lines are intended to manage this risk. The rule book will now include clearer definitions for key terms such as conductor rail equipment, isolated, authorised person, and automatic power changeover, ensuring users understand essential concepts. Wording throughout has been simplified, replacing inconsistent phrases like dangerous to life with one consistent term.
- Select activity GERT8000-M1-Iss-9
  GERT8000-M1-Iss-9
  Summary Of Changes
  The actions following a train accident in sections 1 and 2 have been extensively revised. Greater emphasis has now been placed on the use of available means of telling the signaller, and the ability to alert drivers by using GSM-R radio.
  The methods of contacting the signaller are now set out in the order in which they are most likely to be effective as quickly as possible.
  A railway emergency group call (REC) from the driving cab.
  Any other means of direct communication available from the driving cab.
  A REC from any other driving cab on the train.
  Leaving the train to speak to the signaller.
  The use of detonators has been retained for a trial period in some situations when a driver has left the train to contact the signaller.
  
  Summary Of Changes
  The actions following a train accident in sections 1 and 2 have been extensively revised. Greater emphasis has now been placed on the use of available means of telling the signaller, and the ability to alert drivers by using GSM-R radio.
  The methods of contacting the signaller are now set out in the order in which they are most likely to be effective as quickly as possible.
  A railway emergency group call (REC) from the driving cab.
  Any other means of direct communication available from the driving cab.
  A REC from any other driving cab on the train.
  Leaving the train to speak to the signaller.
  The use of detonators has been retained for a trial period in some situations when a driver has left the train to contact the signaller.
- Select activity GERT8000-M2-Iss-9
  
  GERT8000-M2-Iss-9
  Summary Of Changes
  Changes have been made to this module as a result of an extensive revision to the actions following a train accident in module M1 ‘Dealing with a train accident or train evacuation’. Section 1.4 has been revised to remove reference to carrying out emergency protection, which is no longer a requirement.
  As there is no longer any requirement to place emergency protection during emergency special working (ESW) or temporary block working (TBW), the whole of section 2 has been withdrawn.
  In section 3 on providing assistance, in the event of the drivers of the assisting train and the failed train not having been put into contact with each other by GSM-R radio, and poor visibility prevailing, the driver of the failed train will be met by the assisting train at one of a number of locations. As the driver of the failed train will no longer need to proceed on foot to the emergency protection point, or beyond that, to speak to the signaller, it is no longer necessary to refer to either of those locations in section 3.2.
  
  Summary Of Changes
  Changes have been made to this module as a result of an extensive revision to the actions following a train accident in module M1 ‘Dealing with a train accident or train evacuation’. Section 1.4 has been revised to remove reference to carrying out emergency protection, which is no longer a requirement.
  As there is no longer any requirement to place emergency protection during emergency special working (ESW) or temporary block working (TBW), the whole of section 2 has been withdrawn.
  In section 3 on providing assistance, in the event of the drivers of the assisting train and the failed train not having been put into contact with each other by GSM-R radio, and poor visibility prevailing, the driver of the failed train will be met by the assisting train at one of a number of locations. As the driver of the failed train will no longer need to proceed on foot to the emergency protection point, or beyond that, to speak to the signaller, it is no longer necessary to refer to either of those locations in section 3.2.
- Select activity GERT8000-TW1-Iss-22
  
  GERT8000-TW1-Iss-22
  Summary Of Changes
  Changes have been made to this module, including at section 45.1 ‘When other trains are put in danger’, to correspond with an extensive revisions to the actions following a train accident in module M1 ‘Dealing with a train accident or train evacuation’. Section 13.2 on observing a hand signal is new and contains driver instructions when a hand danger is encountered unexpectedly on a running line.
  
  Summary Of Changes
  Changes have been made to this module, including at section 45.1 ‘When other trains are put in danger’, to correspond with an extensive revisions to the actions following a train accident in module M1 ‘Dealing with a train accident or train evacuation’. Section 13.2 on observing a hand signal is new and contains driver instructions when a hand danger is encountered unexpectedly on a running line.

JUNE 2026