RIA has been developing a major supply chain management initiative known as the Value Improvement Programme - further details here - but there are various other initiatives of importance to suppliers.

One of the recommendations from Lord Cullen's Inquiry into the rail accident at Southall was: 'Suppliers of products or services of a safety-critical kind for use on, or in regard to, the railways in Great Britain should be required to hold an accreditation as a condition of being able to engage in that activity. But the features of such a system require further study.'

In response, RIA initiated a cross industry investigation into relevant initiatives currently under way in the UK rail industry. The investigation has identified a significant number of activities, some of which have similarities, but also with differences deriving from the specific situations being addressed. A document has been produced summarising the various initiatives.

In addition to providing information to RIA members, the work provides significant input into HSE/HSC deliberations on the need for legislation in this area. We believe that the range and number of initiatives identified show the industry to be taking the management of safety critical components very seriously.