NR NR/GN/RSC/01303 ISSUE 2 PDF

This Guidance Note applies to those circumstances where a change of vehicle Operator occurs, but no change to the vehicles, or the route(s) over which they operate. (Where a vehicle change occurs the provisions of GE /RT 8270 shall be applied).

It does not apply to instances of Plant Operator who only operates such equipment within a possession.

The existing commercial processes (e.g. track access and vehicle change) are unaffected by these arrangements.

Purpose

Recently there have been a number of instances when the operators of vehicles with RSAB Certificates of Authority to Operate (CoAs) have changed. This is significant because CoAs are usually issued to a specific, named, operator. These changes are likely to occur more frequently as the SRA implements its policy of franchise restructuring and consolidation.

This Guidance Note identifies those issues that need to be addressed before a CoA may be issued to a new Operator. In particular, it discusses the principles involved, the need for clarity between the Network Rail route acceptance and Railway Safety Case (RSC) review processes, the different scenarios in which changes occur and the information required by Network Rail before a new certificate can be issued.

The principles within this paper have been endorsed by RSAB on 10.03.04.