The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has appointed Professor Clive Roberts, executive dean of the Faculty of Science at Durham University, as the independent chair of its newly established Industry Leadership Group (ILG). This marks a significant milestone in modernising rail standards governance and ensuring decisions are made with clarity, speed, and accountability.
Following an independent review of standards decision making, the Industry Leadership Group has been created to provide strategic oversight and decisive leadership in the development and interpretation of rail standards. ILG makes binding decisions by majority vote. It provides an escalation route for consensus-based standards committees, enabling the faster resolution of complex issues and driving change for the benefit of the industry.
Rail standards are not just about safety. They are a cornerstone of efficiency and cost-effectiveness, enabling the adoption of new technologies by setting clear, consistent requirements. Standards help to:
- avoid duplication and waste across projects and suppliers
- reduce costly delays by providing certainty in design and delivery
- enable innovation without compromising safety, ensuring investments deliver maximum value
- promote the compatibility of different assets
- take a long-term view of asset performance to help optimise whole life cost.
ILG’s streamlined governance will drive these benefits, ensuring standards keep pace with industry needs while safeguarding taxpayer and passenger interests.
Professor Roberts said: “I am honoured to take on this role at such a pivotal time for the rail industry. The ILG will bring clarity and pace to standards decision-making, ensuring that we balance innovation with safety and efficiency. By reducing delays and avoiding unnecessary complexity, we can save money while delivering improvements that benefit passengers, freight customers, and taxpayers alike.”
Mark Phillips, chief executive of RSSB, added: “I’m delighted Professor Roberts has agreed to become he first chair of ILG. His world-renowned railway systems expertise will ensure the success of ILG. A clear escalation route and decisive leadership on rail standards will avoid costly delays and ensure standards enable greater efficiency and better reliability.
The ILG will convene for its first meeting in January 2026, marking the start of a new era in rail standards governance, and RSSB’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and collaboration across the rail sector.
Image credit: RSSB
